LANCASTER, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – A major dairy company is closing two facilities in southwest Wisconsin which means nearly 300 Wisconsin workers could be out of a job come Spring. The dairy maker ‘Saputo’ is closing plants in Grant and Lafayette Counties.

Mayor of the city of Lancaster, Stuart Harper says before the pandemic, the city and the company talked about expanding the Lancaster facility. He says after those discussions, the dairy company stopped responding, “We had offered them land at a dollar four for a lot and they were going to be purchasing multiple lots and be expanding. Well, it’s one of those things that it was a corporation that was trying to keep secrets. you know, and they don’t want to reveal things before it’s convenient for them.

Mayor Harper says now, all the community can hope is for Saputo to sell the property, allowing the city to fill the hole of the company’s departure. Operations at the Lancaster facility are set to close by the end of March.