Prestage Farms’ plans for a new Prestage Foods pork processing plant in Mason City, Iowa, got a boost from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), which on March 29 approved financial incentives to the company.
According to IEDA, the agency’s board has agreed to award tax benefits through its High Quality Jobs (HQJ) program. A total of 332 of the planned 922 jobs have been incented through the HQJ program.
Prestage Farms announced its plans in March to build the facility, pending the finalization of approval from state agencies.
The project, as currently planned, will involve the design and construction of a new 650,000 square foot hog processing facility that will operate on one shift, processing 10,000 hogs per day and producing 600 million pounds of pork annually. While timing for a second shift is yet to be determined, the facility will be designed, but will not be initially constructed, for future expansion to two shifts. The plant will utilize the latest innovations in processing and automation technology to help ensure that it is a world leader in food, employee, and environmental safety.
The company hopes construction on the plant will begin this summer, with completion expected to occur in 2018.
IEDA also on March 29 approved incentives to Simply Essentials, which plans to reopen an idle poultry plant in Charles City, Iowa.
