Virginia rallies behind laid-off Boar’s Head workers: ‘Our community will persevere’ | Employment and Workforce Relations

GREENSVILLE COUNTY, Va. — It's been exceptionally busy on the Emporia Center of Virginia Career Works.

Dozens of the 600 staff on the shuttered Boar's Head plant in Jarratt, Virginia, have arrived to determine what comes subsequent.

Boar's Head introduced final Friday the Jarratt plant would shut indefinitely after repeated security considerations ultimately led to a nationwide listeria outbreak linked to the plant. Nine individuals died and greater than 50 have been hospitalized, in keeping with well being officers.

The plant was one of many largest employers within the space.

Tabitha Taylor — the director of the Crater area — mentioned it was the most important layoff she will be able to keep in mind within the Crater area since Rolls Royce closed its Prince George County jet engine elements manufacturing hub and greater than 100 staff misplaced their jobs.

What neighbors are saying about Boar’s Head plant closure in Jarratt, Virginia: ‘Hard wrestle'

“It’s devastating,” Taylor mentioned of the Boar's Head layoffs. “Certainly complicating everyday life and changing their norm.”

“Boar’s Head had pulled folks in to do some training with them, so I think there was some hope that, hey, we’re going to be able to implement some positive changes here and continue with things,” she continued. “Unfortunately, now they’re in a situation where they’re having to totally re-imagine how they’re going to have a livelihood.”

Boar's Head has provided the workers they laid off with a minimum of eight weeks severance pay, which grows with each year of service, and access to insurance plans for the short term, county officials said.

Taylor said all impacted workers qualify for unemployment benefits until they find a new job, and resources are available in-person, online, and over the phone through their two Virginia Career Works centers in the region.

Find those resources here

“Some folks will get a job next week, and they won’t have to access many of those benefits. But for some folks, it might take a little bit of time, and they might want to take a little bit of time,” Taylor mentioned.

An enormous concern for the area is that the laid-off staff will as a substitute select to maneuver elsewhere for work.

What to learn about recalled Boar's Head deli meats linked to a lethal listeria outbreak

Taylor and different sources mentioned a number of companies in Greensville and Southside have reached out fascinated with contacting the laid-off Boar's Head staff.

“We have open positions, and we want to help get them reemployed,” Taylor said of the companies. “Just because an organization is going out of business or closing a plant doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities here for a sustainable living.”

Two massive job gala's are coming to the area within the subsequent few weeks:

• Crater Regional Job Fair: Friday, October 4th — 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM — Richard Bland College Academic Innovations Center (11301 Johnson Road,
  South Prince George, VA)
• Southside Regional Job Fair: Tuesday, October eighth — 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM — Golden Leaf Commons (1300 Greensville County Circle, Emporia, VA)

Employers fascinated with participating in these job gala's cansign up here.

Many of the Boar's Head staff haven't created resumes or looked for jobs in years, so their interview and writing expertise might use enchancment. Those sources can be found by Taylor's group.

Virginia Career Works can even join staff who would possibly wish to change industries with entry to training grants, job-specific coaching and certifications, and aptitude assessments.

“Then, we provide some career clusters or industries that given your skills, abilities, interests, here’s where you might best fit,” Taylor mentioned.

The full financial fallout of the closure for the area is just not but recognized, mentioned Greensville County Administrator Dr. Charlette Woolridge.

“Boar’s Head has been a staple in the county of Greensville for over three decades, and its closure has sent shock waves, not only through Greensville but throughout the Southside Virginia region,” Dr. Woolridge mentioned. “It has impacted our local economy, it affects our local businesses because you don’t have the consumer spending we once had.”

From a county standpoint, the plant was the largest user of the county water and wastewater system, so losing the plant means the county will lose nearly $1 million in annual tax revenue from that source alone.

Woolridge said the focus remains on helping the families impacted in the immediate. Long term, she is confident Greensville County and Southside will find new economic development engines.

“Greensville County residents are resilient. This community will bounce again; this community will survive,” she said.

Virginia Career Works Crater region has two centers where workers can receive assistance:

• Emporia Center: 1300 Greensville County Circle, Room 105, Emporia, VA 23847 — (434) 634-2326
• Prince George Center: 4300 Crossings Blvd, Prince George, 23875 — (804) 862-6155
• Email: [email protected]

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