A move by Woodbridge Foam from Blenheim to Tilbury has caught at least one South Kent councillor off guard.
Unifor 127 represents the workers in the plant and says the business is booming and needs more space.
Karen Herman says the silver lining is that the company is staying in Chatham-Kent but adds she had no clue the move was coming. Herman says this is very fresh and she's surprised.
"I see this as a building that was moving forward and possible expansion in the community and then all of a sudden, boom, we're surprised to hear this announcement," says Herman.
Herman is urging companies and businesses to be more open with their plans and work with the municipality more closely so that everybody is on the same page and better understands their needs.
The 220 Woodbridge employees should be moved into the old Woodbridge Foam plant in Tilbury by July 1, 2018.
Herman says she's disappointed Woodbridge is moving out of Blenheim but happy for Tilbury.
"Listen, I would love to see expansion in Blenheim, obviously. However, if this is where it's a better fit in Tilbury, I'm happy for the business," Herman says.
Herman says she doesn't know what will go in the empty Blenheim plant once Woodbridge leaves.
"It will open up a building in Blenheim. I guess that's the way the game works but you know what, we will find another business to put in there again," says Herman.