State of Illinois provides help to attract buyers for former Tyson plant in Joslin

Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) on Thursday announced that the State of Illinois is making resources available through the Invest in Illinois Fund to help attract potential buyers for the former Tyson Foods beef facility in Joslin, according to a news release from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

The goal is to return the facility to productive use, support jobs and the Illinois beef industry, sustain economic activity in the Quad Cities region, and assist with establishing additional beef production capacity on behalf of consumers. ​

“The closure of the Tyson facility in Joslin has had a profound impact on workers, families and communities across Joslin and the Quad Cities,” Pritzker said. “My administration, in partnership with the General Assembly, is committed to doing everything we can to support them and help the region move forward. Making the Invest in Illinois Fund resources available gives us another tool to strengthen the search for a buyer and position this facility to once again support jobs and bolster the region’s economy.”

"After the closure of the Tyson facility, we're using every tool available to make sure working Illinoisans in the Quad Cities have the resources they need to thrive," said Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. "Whatever is next for the facility in Joslin, we're making sure it works for the larger community and our state's economy."

This latest action comes following last month’s announcement from Tyson Foods that it would end operations at its Joslin, Illinois, and Eagle City, Utah, facilities as part of a broader restructuring of its beef business, citing historic cattle shortages, which impacted nearly 2,500 employees at the Illinois location. In response, the state has mobilized its workforce and economic development resources to assist affected employees while simultaneously working to identify opportunities for continued investment at the site.

"Through rapid-response services and strong partnerships with workforce providers across the Quad Cities, Illinois has been focused on making sure affected workers have access to the resources, connections and opportunities they need to move forward," said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. "Our commitment is to support these workers and communities throughout this transition and help create a pathway to sustainable employment in the region by harnessing the State's economic development tools to return jobs to Joslin.”

“The closure of the Tyson plant in Joslin was a serious blow to farmers in Illinois and across the Midwest,” said Jerry Costello II, director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. “We appreciate Gov. Pritzker’s commitment to providing resources to support the plant workers and farm families affected by this closure.”

The recent closure comes as the U.S. beef industry faces significant national pressure as the national cattle supply has fallen to its lowest level in roughly 75 years. Those conditions have led companies across the industry to consolidate production and reevaluate facilities in their respective networks, the release says.

Despite the immediate challenges facing the beef industry, the Joslin site remains a significant asset. The facility offers large scale infrastructure, an experienced workforce, access to agricultural supply chains, and proximity to major transportation networks. These advantages could support continued food production or other industrial activity under a new operator.

"This investment by the state is a great help to Illinois' farm families and consumers as it can facilitate a new operator moving into the plant in Rock Island County. We have more than 14,000 family farms across the state raising cattle and we need this market reopened to keep our industry growing across rural Illinois,” said Illinois Beef Association Executive Vice President Josh St. Peters. “Consumers have enjoyed access to some of the best beef in the country through the processing capacity at Joslin, and we can get back to shipping that product to Illinois' grocery stores and restaurants when this new incentive helps a buyer secure the existing facility."

The state's support is intended to strengthen Illinois' position in discussions with prospective buyers and help facilitate a transition that could preserve the Illinois beef industry, jobs and economic opportunity in the Quad Cities region. The state is working with local and regional partners to identify potential operators and explore opportunities to put the facility back into productive use. At this time, the state has not committed to a specific company, or a specific amount of money, tied to the fund.

Earlier this month, the state partnered with local workforce providers to host a rapid-response event in Moline. The event brought together more than 1,000 affected workers, employers and workforce partners from across the region including participants from both Illinois and Iowa. Workers were able to meet directly with prospective employers and learn about available jobs, training programs, unemployment assistance and other support services.

Rapid-response informational sessions were also offered throughout the event, with multiple sessions taking place simultaneously to accommodate the language needs of affected workers, including French, Swahili, Burmese and Arabic, with interpreters helping ensure workers could access and understand information about available services and opportunities.

The State will continue providing workforce assistance while engaging with prospective buyers, regional economic development organizations, local governments, and community leaders. The goal is to secure a sustainable long-term use for the facility that brings investment back to the site and brings job opportunities back to the Quad Cities region.

“I’m pleased to see Governor Pritzker and DCEO taking action to bring new jobs and investment to the former Tyson facility in Joslin,” said State Sen. Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island). “When Tyson abruptly closed the plant with little warning, thousands of hardworking people and their families were left facing an uncertain future. This community deserves better, and I’m hopeful this investment will help attract a new employer, create good-paying jobs and bring greater economic stability back to the region.”

“Tyson Foods' decision to close the Joslin plant was devastating news for the more than 2,500 workers and families whose livelihoods are tied to the facility, but we are taking steps to support these working families,” said State Rep. Gregg Johnson (D-Rock Island). “With the state providing measures to incentivize potential buyers to take over the facility, we’re reaffirming the belief that every worker there deserves a job that upholds and supports them and their families. We’re all going to be working around the clock to ensure they are given the respect they deserve.”

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