DANVILLE, Ill. (WAND) - Quaker Oats Factory in Danville is closing, resulting in more than 500 employees being laid off.

After WAND News reached out to Quaker Oats for a statement, they said, “The Quaker Oats Company announces that we are permanently closing our facility in Danville, IL. Following the Quaker recall in December 2023, we paused production at the facility. After a detailed review, we determined that meeting our future manufacturing needs would require an extended closure for enhancements and modernization. In order to continue the timely delivery of Quaker products trusted by consumers since 1877, we determined production would need to permanently shift to other facilities.

"We do not make this decision lightly and recognize the impact it will have on our employees, their families, and the Danville community. We have notified our workforce and are working closely with our employees and local community officials to provide a supportive transition.”

The Quaker Oats Company announced on December 15, 2023 the recall of specific granola bars and granola cereals because they had the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

An employee who spoke with WAND News anonymously said workers were informed of the closure in a letter given out Wednesday morning after they arrived for their regular shifts.

Another employee, Troy Cole, told WAND News he left a previous job where he had been for 17 years to make the move to Quaker Oats. He said the recall last year drastically impacted the facility. "We had to really clean up the place, take apart parts and really clean up the place, and we thought it was going to get running again ... I didn't expect to hear it was going to be shut down today. I thought we were going to be back up running in May or June."

Cole was born and raised in Danville. He said he has seen a lot of closures over the decades in the city, but he never expected this to happen at Quaker Oats.

Employees were told they will continue to receive regular pay and benefits through June 8.

The facility is located at 1703 E. Voorhees St. in Danville.

An employee who said they have been with Pepsi Co. Quaker for two years told WAND News anonymously, "I know it had been talked about since the salmonella exposure or recall back in December, that something might happen."

The plant said in the letter that 510 employees will be impacted by the closure.

The employee who spoke with WAND News said the news is devastating for the entire Danville community, including contractors who worked with the plant. "We have 60 days guaranteed pay and then ... file for unemployment and hope it's enough to make rent."

Cole said, "I was hurt and shocked. I shed a couple tears, because our livelihoods are at stake. There are a lot of lifestyle changes that are going to have to be made."

June 8 is also the projected closure date for the facility according to that letter.

Mickensy Ellis-White, Chair of the Vermilion County Democratic Party, said in a statement, "The Vermilion County Democratic Party is in solidarity with the workers and their families employed by Quaker Oats. While we await details, we are reaching out to our State and Federal representatives to assess the situation and determine what assistance can be given to the employees and their families. We do not abandon good, dedicated laborers and their families and will seek to be of help as this situation unfolds. As information develops, we will keep our membership, and concerned citizens, informed."

Vermilion County Works said in a Facebook post, "As the news about the closing of Quaker hits our community, we want those affected to know that Vermilion County Works and the American Job Center are here to help. While we are not a hiring agency or an unemployment office, we do have a Resource Room with local job listings and computers to update your resume, apply for jobs, and submit Unemployment applications.

"We are also offering one-on-one assistance to those affected by this closure with resume updates and improving interview skills. To make an appointment, please call 217-442-0296, ext. 110. We are working hard with the state to develop a plan to provide additional assistance with training and skills upgrading for those impacted and we plan to hold group Resume Workshops in the near future. We will provide more updates as they become available."

The city of Danville, Vermilion Advantage, DACC, and Vermilion County Works released the following statement:

"Today, we learned that after 65 years of production in Danville, Pepsico will close Quaker Oats effective June 8, 2024. The business has already ceased production but will continue to pay their employees through that time. While this shocks and saddens us, we will unite as a community to help those who have lost their employment.

"The City of Danville, Vermilion Advantage, Danville Area Community College, and Vermilion County Works are collaborating together to ensure that Quaker employees and their families have the support that they need. We are currently updating a list of local job opportunities and discussing training opportunities that will help them transition into other roles in the community. Most other businesses in town need additional skilled workers, and Quaker employees are known for their hard work and commitment to excellence. Our hope is to connect great workers to great employment opportunities. Together, we will weather this storm."

"It's either going to weaken us, or it's going to strengthen us," Cole said. "I'm going to continue being strong willed."

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