You’ve probably heard that DuPont, owner of Pioneer, is merging with Dow and this will have consequences for Pioneer’s presence in Johnston (see http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/agriculture/2016/02/19/iowa-loses-ag-headquarters-new-dow-dupont/80561874/) .
The city manager, Jim Sanders, held a meeting this afternoon to explain what has happened and what we might be able to expect. He reported that, while the city and state had hoped Dow would locate its headquarters in Johnston, Dow has decided its headquarters will stay in Delaware. The good news is that there will not be a sudden closure and loss of hundreds of jobs. (Pioneer has about 2,600 employees in Johnston, 1/3 of whom live in Johnston.) The bad news is that the future is uncertain. While Dow has committed to keeping a facility (a “Global Business Center”) in Johnston and possibly even growing that facility in the years to come, there will likely be some job losses as part of the company’s “restructuring” over the next few years–possibly at the same time as other, different positions are added.
Let me know if you have any questions.