DECATUR, Ill. (AP) — Archer Daniels Midland Co.'s announcement Monday that it wants to move its global headquarters and 100 high-level jobs out of the small central Illinois city of Decatur has many people in town on edge.
The company, one of the world's biggest agricultural processors, says it won't lay off anyone and will leave 4,400 jobs behind. In addition, Decatur will become the international firm's North American headquarters.
But in Decatur, unemployment is high — 13.2 percent in July. The town has seen another big employer, Caterpillar Inc., lay off hundreds this year. And it's only been three years since another big company, ADM competitor Tate & Lyle, moved its North American headquarters out of town to the Chicago suburbs.
Some people worry that at some point ADM could move more jobs. Fully half of its 30,000 employees are already overseas.
