(Missourinet) – A ribbon cutting earlier this week celebrated Nestle’s official purchase of the former Conagra factory in Trenton.
The ceremony symbolizes a path forward for the community of 6,000 people that was on the brink of losing its largest employer.
Conagra began making final plans to close its factory there earlier this year. Some 200-300 workers were preparing to face the unemployment line. The planned loss of Conagra caused utility rates to spike.
Then, Nestle changed what could have been an economic nightmare for the area. In April, the company announced its intentions to buy the plant and keep the assembly line going with little disruption. What had been a gloomy place for the past two years suddenly gave the people in the area a morale boost.
About 75 people gathered Tuesday to celebrate Nestle’s takeover of the former Conagra factory. Rick Klinginsmith with Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri in Trenton was among the crowd of supporters. He tells Missourinet the last two years have been a rollercoaster ride for the area.
“I think the confidence of the community is what we all struggled with for the 18 to 20 months until we had something that gave us closure,” Klinginsmith says. “It’s going to take some time until we see the confidence fully regained but it is definitely coming back.”
Mike Voorhies, the plant’s union president, says morale is a night and day difference from two years ago when Conagra announced its plans to close the site.
“We’re working five days a week instead of seven days a week. We’re seeing our families more. We’re getting to do more,” Voorhies says.
Klinginsmith hopes Nestle’s efforts will improve the county’s unemployment rate currently hovering over 4%.
“We still remain with a fairly high unemployment rate in our county,” he says. “We’ve got worked yet to do. This announcement doesn’t cure everything, but it is a tremendous step forward.”
The factory includes 150 full-time employees and 99% were previously Conagra workers. Two shifts, along with overtime, are underway at the plant.
Nestle workers make an average of more than $41,000 annually. The company plans to continue operating as an organized union factory.
Other dignitaries at the event included Republican State Rep. Rusty Black of Chillicothe, Republican Sen. Dan Hegeman of Cosby and former Democratic State Rep. Phil Tate of Gallatin.