SIOUX CITY, IA — As a result of a study begun in March, the Postal Service has made the decision to move all mail processing operations from the Sioux City, IA Processing & Distribution Facility (P&DF) to the Sioux Falls Processing & Distribution Center (P&DC) in Sioux Falls, SD. Once the transfer of operations is completed, the Sioux City P&DF will be closed. Local mail delivery will not be affected by the move.

Hawkeye District Manager Gail Duba said, "Given the drastic 20 percent decline in mail volume the Postal Service has experienced since 2007, we must take action to reduce the size of our mail processing network. Consolidating operations and placing our people where we need them is necessary if the Postal Service is to remain viable to provide mail service to the nation."

"I understand our employees’ concern over this move," Duba added, "but the consolidation makes sense given the fiscal realities. The Sioux Falls P&DC has the capacity to handle the additional workload and we can realize significant savings by shifting operations there."

The transition will be completed by October of this year. Affected career employees will be reassigned to the Sioux Falls P&DC or to other vacant positions.

"This move will not cause any changes in local mail delivery," said Duba. "Letters mailed to local addresses will be delivered the next day, the same as before. I am confident the transition will be smooth and transparent to our customers and they will continue to receive the same excellent service they always have."

There will be no change in service standards for 97 percent of the mail. However, as a result of the consolidation, service to ZIP Codes 505, 514, 686 and 687 will change from overnight to 2-day. Service to ZIP Codes 560, 561, 570, 571, 572 and 573 will improve from 2-day to overnight. "The significant cost savings and productivity gains expected from this consolidation were deciding factors in making this very difficult decision," said Duba.

Retail service for purchasing stamps and other postal products will continue to be available at:

• Sioux City Main Post Office at 214 Jackson St.
• Northside Station at 312 W 28th St.
• Morningside Station at 1802 Morningside Ave.
• Hy-Vee at 2827 Hamilton Blvd.
• Hy-Vee at 4500 Sergeant Rd.
• Indian Hills Pharmacy at 1551 Indian Hills Dr.

Mailers who prepare destination entry rate mailings for 510 through 513 ZIP Codes will take their drop shipment to the Sioux Falls Processing and Distribution Facility, 4801 N. 4th Avenue, 57104-9300, effective October, 2011. Large volume business mailers will be able to drop off mail at the Sioux City Main Post Office, Business Mail Entry Unit, at 214 Jackson Street, Sioux City, IA 51101-9998.

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