The rural town of Marmaton, Missouri, has seen a plummeting unemployment rate over the past year, thanks to booming industrial and manufacturing production in the area. With factory jobs booming and industrial jobs on the rise, the town has experienced a steady economic growth, but the news of an impending Tyson Foods plant closure has put a damper on their newfound prosperity.
Tyson Foods, one of the country’s largest poultry companies, announced earlier this month that it would be closing its Marmaton, Missouri facility due to the changing dynamics of the poultry industry. The plant closure will take with it jobs that have been a vital part of the small town’s economy.
Though the exact number of jobs associated with the closure is still unconfirmed, the company estimated it will affect up to 200 employees. This announcement comes at a particularly inopportune time for Marmaton, as the town’s unemployment rate was at an all-time low of 3.3 percent in December of last year.
Without the Tyson Foods facility, the town may face additional struggles, including rising unemployment and the subsequent loss of tax revenue. Despite the advantages of the newly-arrived manufacturing jobs, the closure announced by Tyson Foods will drastically cut into the local economy.
What Marmaton does have going for it is its proximity to other industrial and manufacturing centers across the state. As such, the townspeople are hopeful that those working at the Tyson Foods facility will be able to find employment elsewhere. Still, the closure will be a significant blow to the town’s economic stability.
The Tyson Foods facility closure is indicative of a larger trend in the American economy, as the manufacturing and industrial centers continue to be the backbone of the country’s economic growth. Unfortunately, the closure of the Tyson Foods plant comes at a time when the town was just beginning to feel the benefits of its newfound prosperity.
Marmaton and its citizens must now look ahead, seeking out other sources of employment to help to stabilize the town, while still being mindful of the larger economic trends nationwide. It is a difficult task, but one that the citizens of Marmaton are more than capable of handling.
