Jason Shoaf, who represents Hamilton County in the Florida House of Representatives, called the closure of Nutrien’s White Springs plant a devastating blow. He said his team is working with the Florida Department of Commerce to bring in new jobs.
Nutrien announced the decision Wednesday, Nov. 4, when it released third-quarter results. The company said that after a strategic review of its phosphate segment, it will close the White Springs plant in the second quarter of 2027. It will keep and further optimize its Aurora plant in North Carolina. A company representative said the closing date is June 1, 2027.
The plant currently employs about 500 people, a company representative told local TV station WCJB. All employees are expected to keep their jobs until the closing date, and some positions may be kept longer for work on the plant site. An older Florida State University study, cited by WCTV, put the number of jobs at more than 450. After the closure, the company is expected to carry out site reclamation, including closing the phosphogypsum stack and decommissioning the chemical plant.
Shoaf wrote on Facebook that the decision is devastating news for the employees, their families and the entire county community. He added that his team is already working with the Florida Department of Commerce to find opportunities to create new jobs in the region. According to Fox 49, he also said Nutrien has committed $8 million to ease the effects of the closure. It was not disclosed how the money will be divided or how much will go to workers who lose their jobs.
According to the Lake City Reporter, the plant is Hamilton County’s largest employer and largest property taxpayer. The county could lose about $5.93 million in tax revenue. Nutrien estimates that the closure will reduce annual capital expenditures and lease payments by about $50 million. The company also expects severance costs and other expenses related to the closure.
Source: Florida Politics
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Source: Słoneczne Radio
