Chippewa Falls, Wis. (WEAU) -- A food packaging manufacturer is shutting down its Chippewa Falls plant by January 2013.

Pactiv said the move is in an effort to better serve customers through what it calls "consolidated and streamlined operations." About 175 workers will be affected by the move.

Charlie Walker with the Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation says his organization is going to try and get a new company and new jobs in that building.

He says the building has some marketable qualities that should help in getting a new company into the building, including the fact that it has access to the Canadian Northern Rail Line.

Walker says since Pactiv still owns the building, it'll take a cooperative effort to find a new owner.

"So we're going to work hand-in-hand with that company to get that building back generating jobs and employment," says Walker.

Walker says the food processing industry will be a main target for its search because of the layout of the building.

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LAKE FOREST, IL/CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI (WEAU) - A food packaging manufacturer is shutting down its Chippewa Falls plant by Jan. 2013.

Pactiv said the move is in an effort to better serve customers through what it calls "consolidated and streamlined operations." About 175 workers will be affected by the move.

The company said it will phase out operations at the Chippewa Falls plant, where they make Styrofoam products, then production equipment and products will be transferred to other Pactiv facilities.

FULL PACTIV STATEMENT:
08/21/2012 – Lake Forest, Ill. – "In an effort to better serve customers through consolidated and streamlined operations, Pactiv will phase out operations at the polystyrene foam manufacturing facility in Chippewa Falls, Wis. by January 2013. Production equipment and products at Chippewa Falls will be transferred to other Pactiv facilities based on the needs of customers and the business."

"The plant manager came in and read this letter ... it just stated, 'Unfortunately, we thank you for your generosity and your business your years of service, but as of trying to keep the bigger picture going, your plant's unfortunately gonna be shut down," Pactiv group leader and union president Bernard Bresina said.

"It was very very silent. Everybody's looking at each other, like 'What do we do? Where do we go?" he said.

With no concrete answers on why it's closing down, Bresina, a father of three who has worked at the plant for 39 years, said he and many others are considering their options.

"I'm going to have to rely on my sons to help me fill out a resume."

He said cuts have been made in the past, but he never thought the plant would close.

"I'm hoping to find something that will keep my head above water," he said. "I think it's just greed on (the corporation's owners) part that they want to shut these little plants down, that were willing to work and show longevity to them ... Why?"

"There's a lot of experience going to waste out here right now. From maintenance, to individuals who've been here. That, I regret happening. I truly feel sorry for a lot of people," Bresina said.