DURHAM—City leaders plan to meet with Kroger executives next week after the company announced it will close and sell its 14 stores in the Triangle in mid-August. The cost-cutting measure will impact nearly 1,500 workers.

• The city has launched its “Rapid Response Plan” aimed at helping the soon-to-be laid off employees quickly find jobs.
• They're looking to provide employees with counseling, job search and training and paperwork to get unemployment benefits
• Harris Teeter has bought eight of the stores. Crunch Fitness and Food Lion purchased one each

“It's a nervous time for the employees who are going to be affected over the next 60 days,” said Andre Pettigrew with the city's Workforce and Economic Development.

The city has launched its “Rapid Response Plan” aimed at helping the soon-to-be laid off employees quickly find jobs.

Pettigrew says Durham leaders will meet with Wake County and state leaders to hash out a more detailed game plan. They're looking to provide employees with counseling, job search and training and paperwork to get unemployment benefits.

“Obviously we want to assess their interest, their skills and abilities to make this transition,” said Pettigrew.

Part of the motive is to also keep the Triangle's economy growing.

“We can't grow and move this economy unless we have productive people,” he said.

Harris Teeter has bought eight of the stores. Crunch Fitness and Food Lion have bought one each. Kroger said it's working to sell off the remaining stores.