Chamber asks K-C to delay closure decision
It seeks more time for Legislature to mull issue
The Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce has asked Kimberly-Clark Corp. to delay its Sept. 30 decision about closing plants in the Appleton area until the state legislature can consider a multimillion-dollar incentive package.
“While we are in the midst of a very contentious campaign season, the Fox Cities Chamber requests KimberlyClark to postpone their decision until November 30,” the group said Thursday.
“The Fox Cities Chamber is requesting this extra time to allow our elected officials to work together in a bipartisan manner to pass Assembly Bill 963 and ultimately save good, family-supporting union jobs. Sixty extra days to preserve a 146-year-old manufacturing relationship is a reasonable request,” the group added.
Kimberly-Clark could not immediately be reached for comment.
The company has said it will close one of its plants in northeastern Wisconsin, but may keep a second facility open if the state comes up with millions of dollars in an incentive package.
The company has said it wants a decision from the legislature by the end of the month.
“This allows us to finalize our project plans and minimize the uncertainty and distractions being felt at our various sites, so our employees can focus on remaining safe and manufacturing quality products,” spokeswoman Brook Smith said in a recent email to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) said the paper and hygiene product maker would close its Neenah nonwovens plant that employs about 110 people.
But an incentive package could save the Cold Spring plant in Fox Crossing that has 500 jobs.
Getting votes for such a package has remained elusive.
“I don’t really know where the support would be or how much support there is,” Fitzgerald said recently.
He downplayed the possibility any deal would be reached before the election, let alone by the end of September.