Topeka economic development leaders and workers at Jostens knew that changes were coming at the Topeka yearbook manufacturing plant. But according to Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce CEO Doug Kinsinger, no one thought the move to a new plant in Clarksville, Tennessee would happen so quickly.
Kinsinger says the Chamber, at least for the short-term, is encouraging the roughly 300 production workers who will be losing their jobs to seek retraining at Washburn Technical College. Mike Vannordstrand represents the union for the majority of the Jostens employees:
Vannordstrand says the Jostens pullout will have a detrimental effect on the Topeka economy, even as new manufacturers...such as the Mars Candy Company...move in.