Madison Mayor Paul Soglin said if the city can’t convince Oscar Mayer to stay on the city’s east side, they hope to find another large manufacturer to take over the facility.
Oscar Mayer officials announced last week plans to close the plant.
In terms of finding a new owner, the plant has a lot going for it, according to Nick George, the president of the Midwest Food Processors Association
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“One it’s got a huge refrigerator storage, which is a real plus,” George said. “It’s got a rail line going through it and it’s got easy access to the interstate and easy access to the airport.”
The facility is huge. Finding a company to fill that space is the main challenge.
Paul Jadin, executive director of MadREP, the area’s economic development agency, said they are working to find another use for the property.
“We have made some contact outside of the state with folks that we though may be legitimate users of that facility but to no avail at this point, he said.
Jadin said though no businesses have shown interest in the plant so far, he’s optimistic.
He’ll meet with Soglin on Wednesday to crunch numbers on the plants property value.
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