Projects

Mitigating The Effects Of Plant Closings: Community Transition Funds And Other Strategies

In late 1997, Levi Strauss & Co. announced the closing of 11 plants in eight communities in the United States during 1998. In response to these plant closings, the Human Resources, Government Affairs, and Community Affairs Departments of the Levi Strauss & Co. as well as the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning have created supports to assist displaced workers in reaching their goals for re-employment, re-training, and self-employment. New severance policies and benefits packages were developed. Supports also include a Community Transition Fund- a total of $8 million designated to assist impacted communities over the next three years- and coordination with local, state and federal governments to maximize government benefits to former employees. With support from the Levi Strauss Foundation and Levi Strauss & Co., CAPD has been engaged to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Community Transition Fund grantmaking strategies as well as to assess the collective effects of the Levi Strauss & Co.'s multi-pronged strategy to support displaced workers.