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Osage County mobilizes relief, job services after Orbis plant closure; commissioners approve $7,900 in immediate aid
Summary
Orbis Corporation abruptly closed its Osage City facility March 21, affecting 79 employees. County economic development staff organized two rapid-response job events and the commission approved $7,900 in Osage City Chamber Bucks to support affected families.
On March 21 Orbis Corporation closed its Osage City manufacturing plant without prior notice to county or city officials, leaving 79 employees without work, Colleen, the county's economic development lead, told the Osage County Commission on March 25. The commission approved a $7,900 purchase order to the Osage City Chamber of Commerce to distribute $100 “Chamber Bucks” to each affected employee.
The cash assistance is intended for immediate household needs and to keep spending local while longer-term placement and training efforts proceed. Colleen said the county had coordinated with Kansas Works’ rapid response team and with Osage City officials to schedule two events: a worker information session Thursday, April 3 from 10 a.m. to noon at the community building, and a mobile workforce center visit Monday, April 7 from 10 a.m. to noon for Orbis employees (the mobile center will be open to the public from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.).
“Within 24 hours, we've been able to identify the first work session… This will be a worker information session. It is open to Orbis employees and anyone affected by the layoff,” Colleen said. The county said it will distribute packets of state and local resources to the employees and coordinate with churches to provide light refreshments at the sessions.
Colleen told commissioners the Orbis termination date printed in company paperwork is March 20, 2025, and that the company paid employees out through May 20 to meet the applicable pay requirements. She listed job titles affected — including production supervisors, process technicians, HR staff and shipping leads — and said the county was working “around the clock” with Osage City leadership and the state to connect displaced workers to benefits, apprenticeships, training and reemployment opportunities.
To provide immediate local relief, the commission approved purchase order 4069 for $7,900 to the Osage City Chamber of Commerce, to be paid from the county’s economic development fund (001-27-5200). The motion passed on a voice vote.
Colleen also outlined steps to market the vacant Orbis facility to prospective employers. She said the county will prepare promotional materials for the state’s LOTUS site and is coordinating with the Kansas Department of Commerce and other state and federal contacts. She reported that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) has technical-assistance funds for communities that lose a major employer and that county staff will explore that avenue with Osage City.
Colleen said the county will continue to work with state recruitment teams and that several local and state officials have been engaged already. She also noted an unrelated staffing change: the county appraiser had resigned, which will delay planned community outreach meetings coordinated by the appraiser’s office.
Commissioners did not identify a long-term tenant in the meeting; Colleen said marketing and recruitment will take time and that staff will report back as efforts progress.
The county asked commissioners to consider attending the April rapid-response events in a support role; Colleen said the rapid-response team would run the sessions and that commissioners’ presence would be optional.
