Eagle Mountain leaders are mobilizing to support workers following the announcement that Tyson Foods will close its local plant, according to a August 23 report. More than 700 employees are expected to lose their jobs on or before Oct. 13.
Melissa Clark, the CEO of the Valley Crossroads Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Eagle Mountain City Council, stated that the community has prepared for emergencies such as this. Clark noted that the Utah Department of Workforce Services provides a representative to the chamber once a week to offer on-site job coaching and assistance to job-seekers.
City economic development director Abby Ivory is coordinating with the Utah Department of Workforce Services and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development regarding job leads. Ivory has also invited site selectors to view the building in an effort to secure a new business for the space as soon as possible.
Addressing misconceptions regarding tax incentives, Clark explained that businesses like Tyson receive reimbursements for property taxes after making major contributions to infrastructure, such as highways or power structures. She clarified that incentives are based on past performance rather than projected revenues, and Tyson remains responsible for property taxes on the building until it is sold or leased.
Clark cited Meta’s 2018 data center as an example of how such investments benefit the area. Meta invested over $150 million in power infrastructure, including lines from Spanish Fork Canyon to the Eagle Mountain site and a high-voltage substation that provides power to businesses like an eye clinic and a grocery store in the City Center.
The Valley Crossroads Chamber of Commerce is working alongside the city and local businesses to provide resources for displaced workers. Clark stated the chamber aims to ensure residents find new employment and will continue looking for resources until the community's job concerns are resolved.
