Emporia area plants may expand in 2026, silence on former Tyson plant’s future

TOPEKA (KSNT) – The City of Emporia is working to recover almost a year after a major food production plant announced it would be closing up shop.

27 News reached back out to the City of Emporia and Tyson Foods this month for updates on the former Tyson plant that officially shuttered operations in 2025. Tyson announced it would be closing the plant back in December 2024, ending more than 800 local jobs

in the Emporia community in one of the largest layoffs of the year.

Lyle Butler with the City of Emporia said on Sept. 4 that no information has been provided yet regarding plans for the old Tyson plant. He said the city is unaware of any proposals for the plant to be leased or sold to anyone.

“Tyson has given us no information as to their exact plans for the facility and we are unaware of any company representing it for sale,” Butler said.

Butler said the city is still recovering in the aftermath of so many locals losing jobs as a result of the plant shutting down. Tyson gradually let workers go over the months that followed the initial layoffs announcement until only a skeleton workforce remained at the facility.

“With the layoff of 800 employees the community formed a Rapid Response Taskforce to work with the laid of employees and their families,” Butler said. “Many have found jobs within the Emporia area, but our unemployment rate shows that we still are working to fully recover.”

Emporia’s unemployment rate almost doubled after the plant closure and resulting layoffs, reaching 5.7% in May 2025. However, Butler said that some local manufacturers may be eyeing expansions in 2026, potentially bringing more options for laborers in the city.

27 News also reached out to Tyson for more information about its plans for the old facility in Emporia and whether or not it is for sale or if new ownership has acquired it. Katie Bullock, director of corporate communications for Tyson, said on Sept. 11 the company has no new information to share at this time.

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