The Ozarks region of the United States, populated largely by midwesterners of hearty rural stock, is facing a new challenge as a recent string of Tyson plant closures have left hundreds of families without jobs. The economic implications of these closures have forced residents to engage in a rare act of self-reflection, asking hard questions about the long-term stability of their communities.
These recent closures have been especially hard for a region already affected by job losses due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tyson plants are a midwest economic mainstay, and their closure has created a ripple effect of lost wages throughout the communities. Workers inrelated industries such as trucking, shipping, and distribution have been equally affected.
As the Ozarks’ plant closures come into focus, there is an emerging narrative of long-term economic decline and disparities emerging, with some communities hit harder than others. Though largely focused in rural areas, the implications of these closures will reverberate throughout the region and likely beyond. While legislators have been slow to act, local governments are taking the initiative with measures focused on investments and economic development initiatives to help those affected.
At the same time, residents of the Ozarks recognize that this crisis is an opportunity to seek to redefine their futures. In the wake of the Tyson plant closures, community members are beginning to explore options not traditionally associated with the region, such as renewable energy, tech, and industrial manufacturing, all of which could offer a viable economic alternative.
The Tyson plant closures have prompted a period of economic soul searching in the Ozarks, a process that will likely take a long time to achieve. In the meantime, area governments and organizations are providing short-term aid and assistance to those affected, and community members are coming together to seek to redefine their economic future through exploration and development of new opportunities.
