The closure of the Tyson Foods beef processing facility in Lexington is creating widespread economic and public health challenges for the central Nebraska region and has prompted UNMC to action.
Tyson announced in November 2025 that the plant would close permanently on January 20. The facility, Lexington’s largest employer, provided jobs to approximately 3,200 workers. The broader impact is significant. A University of Nebraska-Lincoln analysis estimates a $3.3 billion economic loss statewide and more than 7,000 jobs affected when accounting for related industries.
Lexington is a vibrant community and has just over 11,000 residents, with about 64% of residents identifying as Hispanic or Latino and more than 40% foreign-born.
The UNMC Center for Reducing Health Disparities, within the UNMC College of Public Health, led a research study with former Tyson workers (IRB #0083-26-EX). The study revealed urgent concerns, including stress, financial instability, loss of health insurance, inability to pay for needed prescription medications, challenges applying for unemployment and public benefit programs like Medicaid and SNAP, and barriers to employment.
Workers described feeling anxious and uncertain about their future, while all expressed a desire to remain in Lexington if support and job opportunities are available.
UNMC mobilized quickly to support affected workers and families through culturally responsive, community-based health education programming.
Athena Ramos, PhD, associate professor in the UNMC College of Public Health, said, “As soon as I heard the news announcement about the plant closure, I knew we had to do something. I focused on learning as much as I could about the community response and understanding the landscape so we could identify opportunities to assist meeting community needs without duplicating efforts where there was already local capacity.”
Between January and March 2026, Ramos and her team at the Center for Reducing Health Disparities partnered with local organizations to provide:
- A six-week Spanish-language mental health promotion program serving 32 participants.
- Spanish-language mental health first aid training for 18 individuals.
- A six-week chronic disease self-management program delivered in both English and Spanish reaching 19 participants.
- Spanish-language CPR and first aid certification for 52 community members.
- Workshops on navigating the U.S. healthcare system and managing stress.
One of the participants mentioned, “I thank God that there are people out there that do care like you guys do.”
View the bilingual infographic about the preliminary study results.
Dr. Ramos said, “Workers and their families are struggling.”
UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, said: “UNMC is dedicated to partnering with communities to meet both their immediate and long-term needs. I commend Dr. Ramos and her team and the dedicated organizations in Lexington for working closely together to support affected workers and families during these difficult times.”
The closure has highlighted the need for coordinated, long-term solutions, including workforce development and upskilling, access to health care, English language and computer literacy programs, and expanded community support systems.
UNMC leaders say continued collaboration will be key to helping Lexington recover and build resilience in the months ahead.
For more information about the study, contact Dr. Ramos via phone 402-559-2095 or email.