Adient will shut down its Athens manufacturing plant at the end of June, a closure that local officials say will affect roughly 210 employees. In response, the McMinn County Economic Development Authority has already moved to coordinate with the local workforce development board and state partners to organize reemployment services and training. City of Athens leaders said they plan to work alongside the EDA throughout the transition so affected families can tap into immediate support.
Closure Details and Layoff Timeline
Adient has filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice with the Tennessee Department of Labor stating that the Athens plant will close on June 30 and that about 210 jobs will be cut, according to WSMV. The filing is part of a series of WARN notices the company has made in the region and contributes to the statewide layoff totals logged so far this year. Local officials said the WARN notice activated state and local rapid-response procedures, which are designed to get in front of employees early and connect them with resources before the final shutdown date.
McMinn EDA Mobilizes Support
The McMinn County Economic Development Authority said it is working closely with the local workforce development board and state partners, and that a rapid response team will be on site to provide immediate help to workers navigating the transition, according to a Facebook post from the City of Athens, Tennessee. The EDA said it will make sure affected employees are informed about employment services, training options and reemployment assistance, while also helping Adient manage the transition. City officials urged residents to keep an eye on official channels for updates and information on local job resources as the closure date approaches.
State Services Workers Can Use
Tennessee’s Rapid Response system and the American Job Center network provide reemployment support, job-search workshops and training opportunities for workers who lose their jobs, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The department’s WARN technical assistance guide outlines how rapid-response teams can hold on-site briefings, assist with unemployment insurance and connect eligible employees with training or trade-adjustment programs, and it directs workers to local career centers as a key entry point. Affected Adient employees can also apply for unemployment benefits and look into apprenticeship or retraining paths through the state’s career services network.
Local Context and Next Steps
Adient is listed among McMinn County’s major employers in the county’s business directory, according to Make It In McMinn. Officials said that, for now, their top priority is getting support to the workers while the EDA and the city coordinate what comes next, according to a Facebook post by the City of Athens, Tennessee. Employees are being encouraged to monitor official county updates and stay in touch with state career centers for the latest information on services and opportunities.
