Pilgrim's Pride Corp. is closing one of its two plants in Athens and laying off about 100 workers, but the company says it expects to find jobs for them before too long.

The closing on Friday comes days after the Texas-based company shut down its poultry processing facility in Athens, Ala., eliminating 640 jobs.

Closing the Athens and Alabama operations is part of a series of plant shutdowns Pilgrim's Pride, including plants in Douglas and
Dalton, Ga.; El Dorado, Ark.; and Farmerville, La.

The Athens Banner-Herald reports that Pilgrim's Pride spokesman Ray Atkinson said the company may find jobs for the workers at its other Athens plant or in its other North Georgia facilities.

He says everyone on the layoff list should be recalled within a few months.

Tags: Georgia, jobs, Athens, Dalton, Douglas, Job Loss, Pilgrim's Pride, El Dorado, Arkansas, Farmerville, Louisiana, job cuts