The company will consolidate its executive operations at JBSUSA's headquarters in Greeley, Colo. The closure of the two officesincludes the elimination of 158 positions at the headquartersfacility, which was built just four years ago, as well as theelimination of 55 jobs in Atlanta. The company employs about 41,000people and operates chicken processing plants and prepared-foodsfacilities in 12 states, as well as Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Currently, Pilgrim's Pride occupies a five-story,176,000-square-foot headquarters facility just outside the citylimits along U.S. Highway 271 in Camp County. According to variousreports, the building once housed 600 employees. The local taxappraisal district values the facility at $22.3 million.Additionally, Pilgrim's Pride has an office building at 110 S.Texas St. in downtown that is valued at just over $2 million.

Pittsburg Mayor Shawn Kennington says Pilgrim's Pride told hisoffice several weeks ago that closing the East Texas headquarterswas a possibility. He tells GlobeSt. that the company will continueto be a large part of the 5,100-person community. "We will stillhave 150 office jobs in the S. Texas Street office," he says,adding that Pilgrim's Pride did not provide him with an exactnumber of Pittsburg residents who had lost their jobs as part ofthe consolidation.