Dairy To Shut Down in Wisconsin Rapids

That’s a shame. 

Schreiber Foods, based in Green Bay, will shut down its Wisconsin Rapids facility Sept. 30, said Deborah Van Dyk, a company vice president.

“It’s possible that some small amount of production will continue beyond that date,” Van Dyk said, adding that the plant currently employs 140 workers. “It depends on how the transition moves.”

Production will be transferred to the company’s new facility in Carthage, Mo.—a decision made primarily to better serve customers who purchase the processed cheese products the business makes in Wisconsin Rapids, Van Dyk said.

But this comment struck me as odd:

“Clearly, it’s another disaster,” said state Rep. Marlin Schneider, D-Wisconsin Rapids. “It’s like the gods are piling it on us. It’s another kick in the teeth.”

The closure will no doubt have a negative effect on income and property tax revenue in the area and on other businesses that benefit from the company’s labor force, Schneider said.

I hope that Schneider had more to say than that, because it looks from the way the reporter wrote the story that Schneider’s only concern is how the job cuts will impact tax revenue.  I’ll give Schneider the benefit of the doubt on this one.