Plant Closings and Employee Layoffs: Resources For Communities

Welcome to Commerce's link to resources for local leaders interested in proactively responding to actual or proposed plant closings and layoffs in their communities. There are many resources available to assist your community and impacted workers. This site provides you with key information about resources to assist your community in mitigating immediate negative impacts and in accessing resources to guide your long-term recovery efforts.

There are several key agencies and organizations that provide information and assistance to both community leaders and workers facing layoffs.

• What Do I Do First?
• Community Assistance
• Workforce Assistance
• Long-term Recovery Strategies

The mission of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce is to serve the people of Wisconsin by promoting opportunity, safety and community. One aspect of the Department's mission is to foster the retention and creation of new jobs and investment opportunities in Wisconsin . The Department coordinates these efforts primarily through its network of Area Development Managers (ADMs). ADMs assist business expansions, promote business retention and help local development organizations in their respective territories. ADMs can use their knowledge of federal, state and regional resources to assist struggling businesses and communities facing layoffs and plant closings.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) provides a system of employment-focused programs and services. Its primary responsibilities include providing job services, training and employment assistance to people looking for work. At the same time the Department works with employers on finding the necessary workers to fill current job openings. The DWD offers a dislocated worker program that was created to provide rapid-response assistance to workers, companies, organized labor and communities affected by business closings and mass layoffs.

Wisconsin has a network of 11 Workforce Development Areas (WDAs) that deliver key employment and training resources and services, including locally-based rapid-response assistance for workers experiencing a layoff or plant closing. Employment and training services for dislocated workers are primarily delivered through locally-based Job Centers. Job Centers provide a one-stop service for employers to meet their workforce needs and job seekers to get the career planning, job placement and training services they need to obtain jobs.

Many counties, communities and private sector groups across Wisconsin have local economic development organizations (LDOs). LDOs help to foster the creation, retention and expansion of employment opportunities and to increase private investment in their communities. Often these groups have active business retention programs and resources to assist struggling businesses.

If an affected company is unionized, Unions may provide information and resources to union members and leaders that are working through potential or actual plant closings and layoffs.