DES MOINES, IOWA – Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) confirmed that it deployed the IowaWORKS Mobile Workforce Center at the Tyson Foods processing plant in Perry, Iowa, on March 25 and 26.

On both days, career planners answered initial questions and prepared workers for the next step, which included critical services to guide them through the layoff process and into reemployment.

“While this is just the initial phase of services for this June layoff, we are committed to supporting every impacted worker through the process to ultimately help them find a new career in the state,” said Beth Townsend, executive director of IWD. “It’s important that we not only provide wide-ranging support in these situations, but also take the time to identify the specific needs of the impacted workers in Perry.”

Tyson Foods announced that on March 11 that it planned to close the facility in Perry, which would affect more than 1,200 workers.

The IowaWORKS Rapid Response Team stated that it has engaged with Tyson Foods and local community leaders since the layoffs were announced earlier this month. The agency said it worked to gather information, assess worker needs, and establish the infrastructure for support services in the weeks ahead.

With details still pending, IWD plans to launch a temporary IowaWORKS location at Tyson Foods to serve as a transition center. Services will be provided in multiple languages based on the needs of the people impacted at Perry.

The agency wants to hold formal worker information meetings to help provide workers with a comprehensive overview of all rapid response services. IowaWORKS also plans to hold job fairs with employers interested in hiring impacted workers. According to the agency staff, it is already connected with over 40 interested employers.