ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) -- An Ohio-based company has told employees that its northwest Iowa meat plant in Orange City will close by the end of the year.

Shuttering the AdvancePierre Foods plant will eliminate an estimated 300 jobs.

Mayor Les Douma says the plant manager told him about the closing late Tuesday.

A representative from the Cincinnati, Ohio-based company didn't immediately return a call Wednesday from The Associated Press.

Douma says the plant has "a great economic impact on the entire region."

The company supplies meat products and sandwiches to food-service, school, retail, club store, vending and convenience store markets.