“They claimed they notified schools it was several days later after we got official word from Borden they were closing,” Geneva County Schools Nutrition Director Justin Hope said. “We were barely a week into school when that happened and it kind of threw everything upside down as milk is a required component.”

Last month, the plant issued a statement saying they could no longer support the production at its facilities in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and Dothan.

With the looming closure, schools systems are forced to come up with an alternative like converting to shelf stable milk or finding a new vendor — a task that has difficult for some school systems.

For Geneva County Schools, they are fortunate to not be in that position. They found a vendor shortly after the bidding process closed a week prior.

“We ended up with Bedsole Milk,” He said. “They had the low bid and they are bringing in M and B products out of Tampa, Florida Bedsole has a 18 wheeler every day to supply multiple schools in our area.”

Hope said they have a seen an increase in usage from students since getting their hands on the new milk brand.

Not only are schools forced to come up with an alternative, the 200 employees at the plant have two weeks to decide on their next move.

Commissioner Doug Sinquefield said there are ongoing negotiations taking place before the deadline that could possibly keep the dairy here. If not, the company is helping employees move to other Borden locations.

In the meantime, the city and county are working with the chamber to help employees who may be displaced. They want to keep employees in the area and find jobs in Houston County like working at the incoming FedEx facility.

“Gateway Tires , some of the other industries coming into Houston County, the business that does the wood laminated beans they are expanding, so that’s going to hire another 60 to 70 employees,” Sinquefield said. “It’s going to be a benefit for them.”

The plant has to be closed by Oct. 2.