Kimberly-Clark will be closing the plant in Conway, affecting 5,000 employees in a series of nationwide shutdowns. The plant will be closed down by 2021, with the closing of operations to begin in the next 18 months. The plant in Cold Springs, Wisconsin will remain open.
The closure comes after Kimberly-Clark reached an agreement with the Gov. of Wisconsin, Scott Walker, to keep a Wisconsin plant open. Walker announced a $28 million incentive package at the plant on Thursday.
The Conway plant has been in operation for over 50 years. Kimberly-Clark informed Arkansas officials at the Conway Chamber of Commerce of intentions to close the plant over the summer.
Kimberly-Clark will lay off 12-13 percent of the current workforce, affecting 5,000 employees. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission has announced that training will be offered to help affected employees.
