Closure begins May\u00a021, raising fresh concerns about economic stability in Sullivan County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nearly three decades of PopCorners production in Liberty will come to an abrupt end next month as PepsiCo prepares to close its only Sullivan County facility, shedding roughly\u202f287 positions during a two\u2011week period that starts May\u202f21, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed with the New\u202fYork Department of Labor. A handful of additional cuts may follow before year\u2011end, leaving many families scrambling for answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Liberty plant opened in\u202f1997 under Ideal\u00a0Snacks and expanded in\u202f2003, becoming a reliable paycheck for hundreds of residents. So, why pull the plug now? PepsiCo cites national snack\u2011market headwinds that require \u201cstreamlined operations,\u201d yet workers remember a similar squeeze in\u202f2023 when\u202f200 jobs vanished just before the site changed hands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sullivan County\u2019s poverty rate still hovers at\u202f14.8\u202fpercent, so any mass layoff hits harder here than in more diversified labor markets. Worried about what comes next? Many households depend on this single employer for health coverage and overtime income, making the shutdown more than just another corporate move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company plans a staggered approach to downsizing. The timeline below shows the key dates regulators and employees are watching:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Management notified staff last week, providing the federally required 60\u2011day warning. Employees clocking out for the last time in early June will receive severance, though terms vary by tenure. Ever wonder whether PepsiCo could sell the plant instead of closing it outright? Company spokespeople say no buyer emerged with the capital needed to modernize aging equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n County officials met Monday with PepsiCo executives, the Chamber of Commerce, and workforce agencies to assemble a rapid\u2011response plan. Here\u2019s what is on the table so far:<\/p>\n\n\n\nDate range<\/th> Estimated layoffs<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> May\u202f21 \u2013 early June<\/td> 287 positions<\/td><\/tr> Remainder of 2024<\/td> Up to 13 more<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Community leaders coordinate counseling, training, and job placement to cushion the blow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n