Posted on 09/22/2017 10:14:57 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. is planning to create 245 new jobs with a $28 million expansion of its Waterloo pork processing plant.
The wholly owned subsidiary of Tyson Foods Inc. joined the city in announcing the project Friday after the Iowa Economic Development Authority approved $2 million in investment tax credits and $396,000 in sales and use tax refunds for the expansion.
The state High Quality Jobs program incentives are contingent on Waterloo City Council members approving five years of partial property tax abatements Monday.
The project includes the construction of a new 56,400-square-foot warehouse building and the renovation of another 18,250 square feet of existing space to add production lines. The IEDA application indicates the company's investment will be split between construction costs and equipment.
It is believed to be the largest industrial expansion or renovation of any kind in the Cedar Valley since an expansion of the John Deere Product Engineering Center in Cedar Falls in 2014, said Steve Dust, executive director of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance and Chamber.
The company now employs nearly 2,900 people and is Waterloo's second largest manufacturing employer, with 539,000 square feet under roof, Dust said, making it one of the largest locations in Tyson's fresh meats group.
“The expansion of our Waterloo pork complex is great news for our plant, our community and our customers,” said Shane Miller, senior vice president of the pork division for Tyson Fresh Meats. “We are committed to the Waterloo community and look forward to adding more jobs, while also supporting the independent pork producers in this region.”
Tyson had also been considering locations in Nebraska and Indiana.
“When businesses grow, we all win,” Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart said. “These new jobs will have a positive impact on every sector of our economy. With them comes greater demand for housing, retail and dining options, healthcare and professional services. This expansion will increase tax revenue that supports city services and our schools.”
Noel Anderson, Waterloo community planning and development director, said the city’s partnership with Tyson Fresh Meats brings continued investment, advancement in technology, and innovation in the food service industry.
“Waterloo’s ability to deliver infrastructure, work force and a smooth design-build process is proven with recent expansions made by companies like Tyson Fresh Meats, ConAgra, Hydrite, and many others,” Anderson said.
IBP inc. spent about $40 million in 1990 building the Waterloo plant. It was acquired by Tyson Foods in 2001.
Dust thanked Tyson Fresh Meats’ management for their continued investment in their Waterloo operation.
“For us, Tyson Fresh Meats’ significant expansion makes it clear that the Cedar Valley is a place that welcomes capital investment of many kinds, and we’re a great place to operate a major plant.”
The Cedar Valley is an optimum location for logistics in the Midwest, Dust said.
“With Waterloo’s aggressive stance to ensure expansions happen here, and Iowa’s incentives, we’re pleased another 245 people will have a new job with good wages and benefits," he said. "It’s a win for the Cedar Valley.”
Napoleon said don’t put all of your eggs in one Waterloo.
Oh oh, they can bring in muslim immigrants to cheaply process that meat....
Oh Pork plant.... well good luck with that.....
Tyson - king of the illegal importers.
I won’t buy any of their products given the Corporations past history of - literal - slavery.
Eff em.
I report on job openings in America, I don’t editorialize. If Enron or Ameriquest were still around I’d post their openings.
Is a single one of them an American citizen?
The vast majority higher than floor supervisors and line managers would be, with a contingent of tokens pulled up from the hourly ranks off the floor to appear inclusive.
I'm with you. Have boycotted them since that news became public.
Weren’t they heavy contributors to the Clinton Crime Family while they were in Arkansas?
Waterloo had a pork plant named Rath Packing until about 20 years ago.
I called on Rath but never sold them anything...
I live 10 miles west of the plant. Luckily the wind usually blows from the west. I hadn’t thought about the Muslim thing
We already have one mosque. That’s one too many.
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