Tyson Foods to close plant, cut work at another

SPRINGDALE, AR (WALB) - Tyson Foods says it will end operations at its Buena Vista, Georgia poultry plant at the end of May.

The company said it will also no longer run a third shift at it's Dawson, Georgia location as of April 10th.

The decision will affect 190 people who work at the Buena Vista location and about 70 people at the Dawson location, Tyson Foods said in a statement.

The announcement comes as the company said it is working to "increase efficiencies."

Officials blamed the closure on the age of the facility and high cost of renovation.

"Because these changes affect our team members and their families, it was a very tough decision," President of Poultry for Tyson Foods Noel White said in a statement. "Our business needs have changed in southern Georgia, so after a great deal of consideration, we've decided to take these steps in order to best serve our customers."

In January, Tyson Foods announced that it is making a significant investment in its Vienna, Georgia, location and changing the focus of its production.

The expansion project in Vienna is expected to add more than 700 jobs when it's completed mid-year.

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