The Greater Dallas County Development Alliance hosted a meeting of local, state and federal leaders Thursday to discuss concerns and challenges following Tyson Foods’ announcement that it will close its Perry plant and lay off more than 1,200 workers in June. According to a press release, the meeting was the first of what is anticipated to be a “weekly discussion to chart a path forward in supporting affected workers and mitigating the impact on the community.”

“The closure of Tyson Foods has undoubtedly created uncertainty and will likely create hardship for many individuals and families,” Perry City Administrator Sven Peterson said in a prepared statement. “However, in the face of adversity, our community has demonstrated resilience and solidarity. On the heels of the tragedy experienced in January, today’s meeting underscored our collective commitment to finding solutions and providing support to Perry citizens. We implore the executive leadership at Tyson to stick to their word and find a user for their soon-to-be vacated facility.”

In future meetings, stakeholders will continue to collaborate to address immediate needs and develop long-term strategies for economic recovery and job creation. The release said efforts will be made to ensure that affected workers have access to essential services, including job training and application services, health care, interpretation services, food security and financial resources. For more information or to inquire about support services available to affected individuals, send an email to info@dallascounty-ia.org.

The following organizations were represented at the meeting, in addition to Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham:

• Iowa Economic Development Authority
• Iowa Workforce Development
• Office of Congressman Zach Nunn
• Greater Dallas County Development Alliance
• City of Perry
• Perry Economic Development
• Perry Community School District
• Perry Chamber of Commerce
• Dallas County Hospital
• Des Moines Area Community College
• Alliant Energy
• MidAmerican Energy
• Minburn Communications
• Iowa Area Development Group
• Osmundson Manufacturing
• Progressive Foundry
• Raccoon Valley Bank