In early 2024, Conagra Brands made the difficult decision to close its Birds Eye food processing plant in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, impacting 252 employees. The closure was part of a strategic plan to streamline operations and improve efficiencies within the company’s supply chain network. While the decision was driven by business needs, it left workers uncertain about their future.
In response, the Workforce Development Board (WDBSCW) of South Central Wisconsin and its Business Services Team reached out to Conagra immediately, offering to support the affected employees through a Rapid Response strategy. This initiative, designed to assist workers facing layoffs, would provide a variety of services and resources to ease their transition and help them secure new employment opportunities.
The local facility leadership welcomed the offer and invited the WDBSCW team to visit the plant. The Board’s team met with workers on all shifts—day and night—to ensure everyone received the necessary information. The meetings provided workers with details on re-employment options, Unemployment Insurance benefits, healthcare coverage, and community resources available to assist them and their families during the transition.
To further support the workers, the Board and its partners, including the WorkSmart Network, State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), United Way of Dane County, and Covering Wisconsin, provided additional on-site services. These services included labor market information, career planning workshops, and guidance on how to apply for new jobs in a rapidly changing economy.
One of the most impactful components of the Rapid Response strategy was a job fair for the employees. The Board supported a customized event where local employers and industry partners came to meet with displaced workers. Several companies even conducted on-site interviews, giving workers the opportunity to secure job offers right away.
"From providing crucial re-employment information and healthcare options to organizing workshops and a successful job fair, the Board and its partners went above and beyond to ensure our employees received the resources they needed to move forward,"shared the HR Director for Conagra Brands, Beaver Dam facility.
The job fair proved to be a turning point for many of the affected employees. As a result of the event, many workers found new opportunities in related industries, while others ventured into entirely new fields. Workers walked away from the event with hope, knowing that they had support and concrete opportunities for their future.
One notable success story came just a month after an affected worker participated in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Dislocated Worker Program. This worker, who had spent several years working in food production, transitioned into a full-time supervisory role with a regional construction company. The career coaching provided through the program equipped this worker with the opportunities needed to take on a leadership position in a new industry.
The Board also worked to secure additional funding to help Conagra Brands workers with desired skills training and supportive services through spring 2025. This funding offers displaced workers the chance to pursue further education and acquire new skills, positioning them for high-quality jobs in the region.