Hundreds of people in the Wisconsin Rapids Area are trying to figure out what they'll do, after some major job cuts.

But ocean spray cranberry has expanded its plant in Wisconsin Rapids to make more cranberry products.

Ocean Spray's plant manager Kirk Willard says expansion could not have come at a better time.

The Wisconsin Rapids plant is planning on hiring at least 200 people for management and labor positions by February of 2009.

The hiring process has already started for some management positions.
The Wisconsin Rapids plant produces Craisins and concentrated juices and they need to expand the facility to keep up with the demand.

The plant manager says they want to hire people who can be flexible with their schedules, are familiar with the products, and can be trained to work on their unique machinery.

Plant representatives like Kirk Willard say. “We don’t have to relocate them we don’t have to assimilate them they come from here already and its easier to get here… Most of the folks in this area would have a pretty good technical understanding."

Willard says he hopes the workers who are losing their jobs in the Rapids area will continue to use their skills, and apply at the ocean spray plant.

He says the hiring will happen in two phases and when the hiring is complete they hope to add a total of about 200 jobs to the area.

Ocean spray says they hope the plant addition will give them the resources to produce more than thirty million pounds of dried cranberries in the upcoming year.