State activates rapid response for displaced Quaker employees

Apr. 5—SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development has activated rapid response services for the approximately 510 displaced Quaker Oats employees after this week's announcement of the Danville plant closing in June.

According to Gov. JB Pritzker's office, examples of services that may be provided include job search and placement assistance, classroom and online training, support programs and facilities, and career transition services. A comprehensive list of rapid response services can be found at www.illinoisworknet.com/LayoffRecovery/Pages/RapidResponseServices.aspx.

Dislocated workers also can receive reemployment services at their nearest Illinois WorkNet American Job Center.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's office issued a statement on the unexpected Quaker Oats plant closure announcement.

"The administration works diligently to keep major operations running in communities where they have made significant investments over many years. We are currently discussing future options for the site with the company and are eager to ensure this site remains an important economic driver for the region," according to the statement.

"Immediately after notifying employees about the closure, The Quaker Oats Company reached out to the state to engage in conversations about future uses of the property. The state is focused on supporting workers through access to training and reemployment services. The state has also engaged in conversation with local economic development leaders to discuss the Quaker facility and other sites that could be positioned for job creation," the governor's office statement continued.

Vermilion Advantage President and CEO Mike Marron said community leaders are working together to make sure the displaced workers are taken care of.

"We want to send the message to (the displaced workers) that we want them to remain here in the community. We want to do whatever we can to take care of them and to make sure that they have the resources to find new job training and to get them high-quality jobs here at some of our wonderful manufacturing facilities here in Vermilion County," Marron said.

Thyssenkrupp Dynamic Components is having an open house on Monday at its Danville Eastgate Industrial Park facility for displaced Quaker Oats employees, and Danville Metal Stamping is welcoming displaced workers to fill open positions it has. More employers also are or will be reaching out to the employees.

Marron also addressed PepsiCo and how they treated Danville. He said he understands on a corporate level these decisions are made just from a business standpoint, dollars and cents, what makes the most sense.

"Apparently it makes more sense from a return on investment to just move these operations than to invest in the facility here in Danville. But in making those decisions, I think that they've left a few things out that are pretty critically important," Marron said. "They forget about the fact that for 60-plus years, the people of Danville helped them manufacture their products. Their product, granola bars, that have pretty well owned the market share here in the United States. That success that PepsiCo's enjoyed from that product is largely because of the people here in Danville. Not only did the people here help build those products, make those products, we all consumed those products."

Marron continued. "And the thanks that we get, the return that we get is to be treated like this?

"But from a corporate responsibility standpoint, you failed a test. And people today in the United States, in the most pro-business, entrepreneurial society in the world has lost faith in corporate America and it is because of decisions like this. Because you've abandoned a community that helped you build your success.

"From a Danville standpoint, this is just one more blow in a series of blows that we've sustained over the last 30 years. Nobody wanted to see this happen. But we're still fighting, we're still in the game. No community that I know, from the west of us to the east of us, can take what Danville's taken and still be on its feet, still be in the fight and still be as strong as it is. This is a wonderful community. We've taken a lot of hits and nobody wanted to see us take this one. But we're going to take this hit, we're going to stay in the game, we're going to stay fighting and this community is still going to be strong. It's a wonderful strong community, and there's going to be a better day ahead for Danville, and a brighter day and we'll all figure out how to get through this and be better because of it," Marron said.