EMPORIA, Va. — The first of several job fairs will take place Monday for some of the over 600 people impacted by the decision earlier this month to shut down the Boar’s Head production facility in Greensville County, Virginia.
The facility was the center of a listeria outbreak tied to its liverwurst that left nine people dead and 57 sick across 18 states.
The union representing the workers at the plant said they reached an agreement for those who wanted to transfer to other Boar’s Head facilities or get a severance package. For those in the latter camp and looking for a new job, Virginia Career Works – Crater Region is among those trying to help connect them with employers, locate job fairs, and update their resumes.
“Then provide some career clusters or industries that given your skills, abilities, interests, here’s where you might best fit,” said Executive Director Tabitha Taylor. She added that businesses across Southside have expressed interest in hiring those impacted. “Just because an organization is going out of business or closing a plant doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities here for a sustainable living.”