Strong labor market awaits those losing jobs at Grand Island manufacturing plant

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — The job hunt begins for 100 people who will be laid off when a local plant shuts its doors. Despite the AGI closure, the local labor market should be promising to those seeking work.

“We’re making sure we’re taking care of our employees that’s the priority,” Scott McKernan of AGI said of the planned shutdown.

The company produces grain bins and is changing production specifications, resulting in the decision to close the Grand Island plant.

“First and foremost nobody’s losing their job today we’re going to run out the rest of the summer and during that time we’re going to have job fairs. We’ll look at openings across AGI make sure employees have everything they need for successful transition,” McKernan told NTV.

“I think there’s a lot of opportunity within the manufacturing community for these folks to find jobs,” said Justin Pfenning, chairman of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

While 100 people losing their jobs is a blow, Pfenning says Grand Island employers need people with manufacturing experience.

“Especially with low unemployment and it’s even lower when you factor the skilled labor part of it, it really is a sector looking to backfill with employees,” he said.

Grand Island’s unemployment rate is lower than the state’s already low rate of 2.5 percent. Additionally, a record number of Nebraskans are currently in the workforce. The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce says manufacturing employes more than 6-thousand people.

“Manufacturing still represents one of the largest employment sectors in Grand island with great wages and great benefits with upward mobility within those companies,” Pfenning said.

Pfenning himself started at ground level in the tool business.

“My first job was sweeping the floor,” he said with a smile.

Now one of the owner at Dramco, he’s worked with most of the equipment.

As AGI employees start to look for work, area employers like Dramco will likely be on the hunt as well.

“Be proactive in helping these folks get replaced into positions,” said Pfenning.

Still, it marks the end of an era for a plant building the tools generations of farmers have depended on.

“A legacy of great products and great people. We’re blessed,” said McKernan of AGI.