Relief In Decatur As ADM Promises To Preserve Jobs

Sep 24, 2013 7:42 AM

Decatur residents say they're relieved - but wary - by Archer Daniels Midland Company's announcement that it would move its global headquarters while retaining local jobs.

The agribusiness giant says it needs a center with better access to customers, but plans no layoffs in Decatur. ADM has been in the central Illinois city for 44 years and is its biggest employer with 4,400 jobs.

Gary Hoover runs a business selling radio-controlled cars, airplanes and boats. He says as long as ADM keeps manufacturing jobs here, his clients and the town should be OK.

But 36-year-old laborer Shawn Flaherty worries the company eventually could move its entire operation.

He's been laid off for six months from a job with a general contractor after some of its work with ADM dried up.