Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Development Corporation details rapid response to Cody layoffs and markets industrial sites
Summary
JJ Harris said the development office ran rapid‑response job fairs and has active prospects for the 266 workers recently laid off at the Cody facility; prospects include Project Viking (engine/transmission), Project Ozark and other leads, and the Cody facility (821,000 sq ft) remains a marketing asset.
JJ Harris, speaking for the Development Corporation, told the fiscal court that the agency moved immediately after an announcement that the Cody facility would lay off 266 workers. The office organized job fairs and rapid‑response outreach, contacted site selectors and industry representatives, and reported at least six site visits and several active prospects.
Harris described multiple active leads by project code (Project Viking, Project Thanksgiving, Project Ozark) and said one prospect is an international automotive OEM supplier interested in the Cody site’s large clearances and infrastructure. Harris emphasized the local workforce’s experience as an advantage and noted the Cody facility’s size — about 821,000 square feet on 327 acres — as attractive to manufacturers seeking high ceiling heights and ready infrastructure.
Workforce and rapid response: Harold and Josh (agency partners) said rapid‑response coordination with state workforce and local training providers brought roughly 40 affected employees to the job fair and connected them with 38 employers at a regional hiring event. The Development Corporation said it would continue to track placements and report back to the workforce development committee.
Economic development context: Harris also noted retail and housing inquiries and described ongoing marketing for other industrial and commercial projects. He said parks and recreation investments would help economic development marketing by improving community quality of life for prospective employers.
Next steps: the Development Corporation will monitor leads, follow up with site visitors, and report placement numbers to the county’s workforce committee in the coming weeks.
