By: The Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation (PCEDC) | 7.10.24
We want to provide the community with an update on the ongoing efforts in response to the closure of Caterpillar’s Wamego facility. The impact of this closure on our community cannot be overstated, and we are dedicated to helping every affected employee and family through this transition.
Taskforce Initiatives:
Earlier this week a regional task force convened to address the ramifications of the closure and to strategize moving forward. This task force comprises representatives from multiple types of stakeholders, including local government officials, business leaders, community organizations, and educational institutions. We are united in our goal of mitigating the impact of this closure and fostering new opportunities for our community.
State and Federal Collaboration:
We have been in close communication with state and federal officials to ensure we leverage all available resources and support. Our discussions have been productive, focusing on resources at hand and proactively working in a positive direction.
Progress and Next Steps:
Here are some key points from our recent efforts:
- Support for Affected Workers: We are working with local employers and the state’s Rapid Response team to provide information and access to a comprehensive range of direct services, benefits, training opportunities and income support.
- Marketing the Facility: We are actively connecting all prospective buyers with the appropriate real estate representatives at Caterpillar. The company has not yet made the building available for sale and we will be notified as soon as it is.
Timelines:
We will share specific timelines as soon as they are finalized, but please know that our immediate focus is to ensure that support services are readily available and accessible to all who need them. The KansasWorks team is in communication with Caterpillar human resource officials and in the process of arranging meetings to provide information to employees based on their individual needs.
We appreciate the patience and resilience of our amazing community during this time. We are working diligently to create a pathway toward a stronger and more diversified local economy. Our commitment to the well-being of our community remains steadfast, and we will continue to provide updates as we progress.
Media inquiries should be directed to Shanna Goodman at Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation (PCEDC) at (785) 456-9776 or shanna@ecodevo.com.
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