MOCKSVILLE — Nearly 500 people will lose their jobs when a chicken processing plant in Mocksville closes within the next two months, the company that owns the plant said today in a filing with the N.C. Department of Commerce.
Omtron USA, which owns the Townsends plant, notified the state, town officials and employees at the plant with a federal WARN Act notice. The law requires companies to give 60 days notice when closing a plant or laying off a large number of employees.
In the notice filed with the state, Omtron said it would shut down the plant by Sept. 27. The notice said 476 employees will lose jobs. The company had added 200 of those jobs over the past 90 days, according to reports.
According to published reports, Omtron will also close an operation in Siler City. Omtron bought the facilities when Townsends declared bankruptcy.