Community leaders urge help as Foster Farms closure threatens hundreds of Turlock jobs

Public comment at the Jan. 28 council meeting focused on the imminent job loss from the Foster Farms closure and community calls for city assistance.

Jolene DeGrazia of Westside Ministries spoke on behalf of children and workers associated with Foster Farms, saying employees are "afraid" and urging the city to do everything within its power to help people find work. "I am asking the city of Turlock to do everything within their power to help the people to find work," DeGrazia said during public comment.

City Manager Reagan Wilson reported the city had spoken with Stanislaus County workforce development officials and that the county is preparing to assist displaced workers. Wilson told the council the latest planning call indicated roughly 549 people would be affected by the Foster Farms action; staff said the city would share vacancy information for city jobs as openings occur and coordinate with county efforts and local employers on job fairs.

Council members representing affected districts said they are actively pursuing options to minimize displacement. One council member noted the company that acquired the assets intends to relocate some operations to Livingston and that company statements indicated attempts to relocate some Turlock employees to other sites; she and staff said they are speaking with other poultry processors and employers in hopes of placing workers in similar jobs. That council member and others emphasized the practical barriers to retraining for many affected employees, noting language and literacy barriers for some workers.

Public commenters asked the council to do everything possible to protect households that depend on the plant for livelihoods. Staff said they would continue coordination with county workforce officials and local employers; remarks made at the meeting indicated ongoing outreach and planning but no new council policy or appropriation was adopted that night.