PMC Biogenix, the specialty chemical maker that runs a long‑time plant in North Memphis, is shutting down its Pope Street facility on April 26, a move that will affect 172 employees. A state WARN filing shows 122 of those workers are represented by the United Steelworkers. The news lands in a community that still remembers a 2022 on‑site explosion and fire that sent workers to the hospital and drew a major emergency response.
What the WARN notice says
A memorandum posted by the state says PMC Biogenix notified regulators on Feb. 26 and plans a permanent closure on April 26, 2026, affecting 172 employees in all. The memo notes that 122 workers at the site are union‑represented and confirms that the Greater Memphis Chamber’s rapid‑response team has been alerted to coordinate services for displaced employees, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
A plant with a history
The Pope Street facility drew heavy attention in January 2022, when an explosion and fire involving a fatty acid triggered a large emergency response. One worker was hospitalized, and others were treated at the scene. The incident prompted air‑monitoring around the plant and a sizable fire response, though authorities later said nearby residents were not at ongoing risk, according to Action News 5.
Company and community context
On its website, PMC Biogenix describes itself as a global, innovation‑driven developer and manufacturer of specialty chemicals made from renewable resources, with product lines that include fatty acids and esters. The Pope Street facility has operated for years as an industrial employer in North Memphis, according to PMC Biogenix.
What it means for workers
The state memo says the existing collective bargaining agreement will govern how the closure is handled for union‑represented employees. Non‑union workers at the facility do not have bumping rights, meaning they cannot claim other positions based on seniority. The notice also says the Greater Memphis Local Workforce Development Area and the state’s Dislocated Worker Unit have been notified to provide rapid‑response and dislocated worker services for those losing their jobs, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Local coverage and next steps
Local media have highlighted the WARN posting and resurfaced the plant’s 2022 safety incident, while workers and union leaders move quickly to map out what comes next. As reported by LocalMemphis and the Daily Memphian, regional rapid‑response teams are being lined up to offer job counseling and other services for displaced employees. At the time of publication, the company had not posted a public statement about the shutdown on its website, according to PMC Biogenix.
