Less than 24 hours after the Tyson Foods Joslin plant closure was announced, conversations were already underway in Geneseo about how to help thousands of suddenly displaced workers find their next jobs.
Those conversations have now turned into a Community Job Fair scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Hammond-Henry Hospital in Geneseo.
The free event, organized by Hammond-Henry Hospital and the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce, will bring local and regional employers together with job seekers in one location. It is open to the public, not only former Tyson employees.
Employer registration is now open, and the Chamber is encouraging businesses with available positions to participate.
Organizing Began the Morning After the Closure
The speed of the response reflects the scale of the disruption.
Geneseo Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lindsie Akers said Tyson's closure was announced Thursday afternoon. By Friday morning, Hammond-Henry had contacted the Chamber about organizing a job fair.
“We both recognized how significant the impact would be on our region and wanted to respond as quickly as possible,” Akers said. “From there, we immediately started working together to get something organized and connect affected workers with local opportunities.”
Hammond-Henry described the loss of approximately 2,500 Tyson jobs as a significant disruption to the community it serves and said partnering with the Chamber allowed the organizations to combine their efforts to provide immediate assistance.
The hospital has experience with career fairs and recruiting through them. In a previous hospital publication, Hammond-Henry reported participating in area job fairs and said it had hired employees through one of its own career fairs.
More Than Production Jobs Were Lost
Although the Joslin facility was a beef processing plant, the workers affected by its closure represent a much broader range of skills.
Akers said the workforce includes people with backgrounds in production and maintenance as well as logistics, management, administration and other fields.
That is why organizers are seeking employers from a variety of industries rather than limiting the fair to food processing or manufacturing.
“We know local employers are hiring across a wide variety of industries, from healthcare and construction to manufacturing, skilled trades, professional services and more,” Akers said.
The goal, she said, is to assemble enough variety that workers with very different backgrounds can find potential matches.
Hammond-Henry itself has immediate openings in environmental services, nutrition services, front office, materials, rehabilitation support and accounting, along with clinical openings for Certified Athletic Trainers, RNs, LPNs and laboratory technicians, according to information provided by the hospital.
Other participating employers are expected to bring their own mix of openings.
More Than 50 Local Openings Already Listed
No single job fair — or community — can immediately replace approximately 2,500 jobs.
Akers said the Chamber recognizes that reality.
But its existing Jobs Board currently has more than 50 openings, she said, providing at least one indication that employers in and around Geneseo are looking for workers.
“We recognize that no single community can replace approximately 2,500 jobs overnight, but every position we can help fill locally matters,” Akers said.
The Chamber is also encouraging employers that may have been considering adding staff to reassess their needs in light of the experienced workforce that has suddenly become available.
Keeping even a portion of those workers employed locally could have effects beyond the individual paycheck.
“Our employers want to help the individuals and families affected by the closure, but they also understand the importance of keeping as much of this workforce local as possible,” Akers said. “When people can find their next job here, they're able to remain part of our communities and continue contributing to our local economy.”
That goal is also reflected in the Chamber's job-fair information, which emphasizes connecting workers with opportunities close to home.
What Job Seekers Can Expect
The format is intentionally straightforward.
Job seekers will be able to speak face-to-face with hiring personnel from participating employers, ask about available positions and apply for jobs.
The Chamber recommends bringing copies of a résumé and a laptop for employers that use online applications.
But organizers don't want a lack of either — or a long absence from the job market — to keep someone away.
“If it’s been a long time since someone last applied for a job, feeling nervous or uncertain is totally natural,” Hammond-Henry said in information provided to The Current. “My advice is simple: just come as you are.”
Many available positions may also provide on-the-job training, meaning workers shouldn't automatically rule themselves out because their previous job title doesn't exactly match an opening.
The fair is free and open to everyone. No pre-registration is required, although the Chamber is encouraging job seekers to RSVP.
Employers Are Being Asked to Participate
The other half of the effort is finding employers.
Registration is now open for businesses interested in participating in the Aug. 25 fair.
The Chamber is specifically looking for employers with open positions who want direct access to workers actively searching for their next opportunity.
The Chamber says booths are filling and is encouraging interested employers to reserve space as soon as possible.
Employer registration and job-fair information
The fair presents an unusual opportunity for employers as well. A large number of workers with established employment histories and experience in production, skilled trades, logistics, maintenance, administration and management have entered the regional labor market at essentially the same time.
For businesses that have struggled to fill positions, that changes the recruiting landscape.
The Response Goes Beyond Finding Another Job
The Chamber's response to the Tyson closure is also expanding beyond employment.
Akers said the organization is working to identify job openings and make sure displaced workers know about them, while also connecting families with assistance that may be needed during the transition.
“Losing a job affects much more than employment,” Akers said.
The Chamber is directing workers toward resources including the Geneseo-Atkinson Food Pantry, Black Hawk College Career Services, the American Job Center, Illinois Housing Help and community resources available through the Henry & Stark County Health Department.
Its existing Jobs Board also remains available to employers and job seekers.
“Our role as a Chamber is to bring people and resources together,” Akers said, “and right now we're trying to use those connections wherever they can help.”
Community Job Fair
Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026
3:30–5:30 p.m.
Hammond-Henry Hospital, Geneseo
The event is free and open to the public. Job seekers do not have to be former Tyson employees to attend, and an RSVP is encouraged but not required. Employers with openings can register to participate through the Geneseo Chamber.
Geneseo Community Job Fair information, job-seeker RSVP and employer registration
Additional Resources
The Geneseo Chamber is also directing affected workers and families to the following organizations: