Economic development officials in Ottumwa are dealing with the recent announcement that John Deere will close its factory there and consolidate its operations in Des Moines and Louisiana. Greater Ottumwa Partners in Progress executive director Marc Roe says John Deere has been in the region since the early 1900s.
Within hours of Tuesday’s announcement, Roe began collaborating with Iowa Workforce Development and Indian Hills community college to brainstorm how to retrain and retain those workers. Roe is thankful for the extended timeline to explore other opportunities for the region.
John Deere will leave about 400 people out of jobs, and an abandoned industrial complex in the middle of Ottumwa. Roe hopes to attract new manufacturing, retrain local employees through workforce development or the local community college, and find new ways to retain families that are building businesses or going to school in Ottumwa.
(By Eliza Billingham, Iowa Public Radio).
