Lexington to buy some Tyson assets in bid to rebuild after plant closure

City officials in Lexington said Wednesday that they are partnering with Tyson Foods to help the community recover from the closure of the meatpacking plant there, which put more than 3,000 people out of work.

In a news release, the city said it is collaborating with the company on strategic initiatives “aimed at attracting private investment, fostering job creation and driving long-term economic development.”

The news release came one day after Lexington’s City Council voted to authorize its city manager to negotiate the purchase of certain Tyson assets.

The collaborative effort will include the city buying Tyson’s wastewater plant as well as farmland around the plant. City officials also said they will work with the company to identify potential new users and/or redevelopment opportunities for the plant.

Tyson officials could not be reached for comment.

The company announced in November that it would close the plant in January. More than 3,000 people worked there, and nearly all lost their jobs when it closed. A couple hundred employees were kept on for a few additional months to help with shutdown operations.

The closure has had a devastating effect on Lexington and Dawson County. Radio station KRVN reported last week that unemployment in the county surged to nearly 17% in February, up from 3.4% in January.

Data from the Department of Revenue shows net taxable sales in the county fell more than 11% in January compared with January 2025.

Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer, in a post on X, said she was “encouraged” by the collaboration.

“I’ve been pushing Tyson for this move in the wake of their very-sudden plant closure, which was devastating for the community,” Fischer said in the post. “I look forward to seeing this plan move forward and working with the city to build a strong future.”