August 21, 2026
Rep. Ryan Spain Statement on Tyson Foods Plant Closure Announcement in Rock Island County
State Representative Ryan Spain issued the following statement after news broke last Thursday that the Tyson Food Factory in Joslin, Illinois in Rock Island County will be closing its doors as of August 14, 2026.
“I am stunned and saddened by the news that Tyson Foods is closing after 43 years in Joslin. This is devastating to our region, to the families that depend on the income they receive from this factory, and to the communities who will bear the downstream impacts of this closure. I have asked Tyson Foods and others to work together to analyze potential repurposing of this facility for preserving jobs.”
“Tyson Foods must honor its commitment to supporting the impacted employees through this transition, providing them with necessary resources and assistance to navigate this difficult situation. Local officials and community leaders are united in urging state agencies to assist with worker transition and support services, as well as facilitating avenues for economic revitalization for this impacted regional economy.”
Quad-Cities-area legislators say “all hands on deck” for Tyson Beef-Joslin’s displaced workers
Quad-Cities-area legislators shared an update today about their continued efforts to assist impacted employees, mitigate industry interruptions, and spur plant repurposing following the Tyson Beef processing plant closure in Joslin, Illinois.
Illinois State Representatives Ryan Spain, Gregg Johnson, Dan Swanson and Brad Fritts organized a bipartisan planning call on Tuesday with state agencies, including the Governor’s Office, Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL), Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), and other stakeholders.
The objective of the meeting was to discuss workforce impact to over 2,500 workers, as well as industry impact following the beef processing plant’s closure. The legislators’ work with the state agencies was aimed at identifying immediate resources for impacted workers and to discuss long-term strategies to try to mitigate the impact of the Tyson Beef-Joslin Plant’s closure on the industry and the Quad-Cities-area economy.
“I appreciate our area legislators and state agencies all working together to identify support for workers, as well as strategies for the site and community impacts,” said Representative Ryan Spain, a Republican who represents the portion of Rock Island County which includes the facility in Joslin.
Representative Gregg Johnson, a Democrat who represents many of the workers at the Joslin plant, said, “Tyson Foods decision to close their Joslin plant is devastating news, especially for all of the families affected. My colleagues on both sides of the aisle and I are working together to create supportive measures for the workers and their families. As we come together, we are focused on bringing the workers clear information that helps them access resources and coordinate future goals.”
Tuesday’s meeting was a planning call and included nearby State Representatives Dan Swanson and Brad Fritts, who have workforce impacts to their districts as well as concerns for agricultural industry impacts for Illinois’ beef industry. The Tyson Beef- Joslin plant was estimated to be responsible for approximately three percent of the United States’ beef processing market. About 216 head of cattle were processed per hour at the plant, until its sudden closure by Tyson last week. Tyson Beef cited reorganization of their processing operations, keeping open plants like their Dakota City, Nebraska facility which processes 390 head of cattle per hour, by comparison.
State Officials are reviewing WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) Act notices to plant employees, are mobilizing safety net services and employment transition supports, and planning several rapid-response events for displaced workers.
“The impacts of this closure not only hurt the workers at Joslin, but also the beef and agriculture industry, as a whole,” said Representative Dan Swanson (R-Alpha), who, himself, raises cattle at his family farm near Andover.
“Workers, farmers, truck drivers, small businesses, and more,” said Representative Brad Fritts (R-Dixon). “You just cannot overstate the impacts this closure will have on Illinois’ economy. It is critically important to get these stakeholders all working in the same direction to mobilize resources and strategies to try to rebound the industry as quickly as possible.”
The legislators announced that there will be additional response updates provided in the coming weeks, and that efforts to work together toward solutions is the best plan for the Quad-Cities region.
The Joslin processing plant was under Federal food inspection supervision. Tyson Beef employees had 401(k) plans, not pension plans. Approximately 2,000 of the workers are union members with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1546. State agriculture and commerce officials are working on quickly opening new markets for Illinois beef, as well as encouraging processing capacity surges, if needed in the short-term for impacted Illinois cattle producers.
State Officials and legislators expect coordinated rapid-response events for displaced workers to begin in early September, with initial details below.
Job fair at Vibrant Arena aims to help thousands of workers displaced by Tyson plant closure
Businesses across the Quad Cities are being asked to step up and help more than 2,500 Tyson Joslin workers left without a job.
The American Job Center in Rock Island and IowaWorks are partnering to host a job fair for skilled workers from noon-4 p.m. Sept. 2 at Vibrant Arena at The Mark in Moline.
Employers who want to attend should fill out this form.
If you are actively hiring, please contact the director of the American Job Center, Teresa Cherry, at [email protected]
This summer, 396 students completed my annual Summer Reading Club challenge. Another record-setting year, and a 23% increase over last year’s participation. For achieving the goal of reading eight books, each student received a letter of congratulations, a certificate of recognition and a gift card for a sweet treat.
With the Deadline passed for 2026’s program, please watch for our next rollout in May to learn how K-5 students who live in the 73rd District can participate during Summer 2027.
