GOPIP Statement on John Deere's Ottumwa Closure

Today's announcement is certainly disappointing news for Ottumwa and the surrounding region. John Deere has been part of the fabric of this community for more than a century, providing good-paying jobs, supporting local families, and contributing to our economy in ways that extend far beyond the walls of its facility.

Our first concern is for the employees and their families who may be affected by this decision. These are our friends, our neighbors, and people who have spent years, and in some cases generations, building their careers with John Deere. We recognize the uncertainty this announcement creates for them.

From an economic development standpoint, we also recognize that the impact of this closure extends well beyond the jobs themselves. These are jobs that support our local businesses, contribute to our tax base, and help sustain our community. When a major employer leaves, we aren't simply concerned about the loss of employment. We're concerned about the possibility of losing families who live here, shop here, send their children to our schools, and contribute to the fabric of our community. That's why our focus must extend beyond simply replacing jobs. We need to work to retain the people who have filled them.

Ottumwa has a strong manufacturing heritage, a skilled workforce, and a community that has demonstrated its ability to adapt to economic challenges. Those strengths haven't disappeared because of this announcement. Our responsibility now is to work with John Deere, our city, our workforce development partners, and regional employers to identify opportunities that allow affected employees to continue building their lives and careers right here in southern Iowa. We also need to look toward the future of the facility itself and the opportunities it may present for new investment.

This is a difficult moment for Ottumwa, and we aren't going to minimize its significance. But Ottumwa is not defined by any one employer, and this announcement does not determine our economic future. For more than a century, John Deere has been an important part of Ottumwa's story. We are grateful for the generations of men and women who have worked there and helped build our community. That history deserves to be recognized, and the impact of this decision deserves to be taken seriously.

But the story of Ottumwa has never been written by one company alone. It has been written by generations of people who have invested in this community, built businesses, raised families, and worked to make tomorrow better than today.

Our responsibility now is to honor that history, stand beside those who will be affected, and make sure the next chapter of Ottumwa's economic future is one we are actively working to write.

Marc E. Roe

Executive Director

Greater Ottumwa Partners in Progress