LIBERTY — As the Town of Liberty is still clearing the dust from the annoucement of the closure of the Frito-Lay manufacturing plant in May last week, New York State Assembly Member Paula Kay released a statement in support of finding fruitful next steps.

“It is devastating that PepsiCo has decided to close their Liberty PopCorners production facility, a facility that has operated for nearly three decades. The closure of PepsiCo in Liberty will leave almost 300 workers looking for new jobs and put Sullivan County and the Hudson Valley Region in a state of economic crisis,” the Assembly Member said. “Losing a major employer will significantly impact the greater Liberty community, but I will not abandon my constituents; we will weather these difficulties together.

“Layoffs will begin May 21, giving us time to create a robust response to this crisis. I will work with Federal, State, and Local partners, the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce, the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development, the Center for Workforce Development, and other community organizations to support our neighbors and their families. But make no mistake, these jobs are not going to be replaced overnight. By coming together as a community, we will persevere through these challenges.”