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| Farmland Enhances Monmouth And Own Plant |
Monmouth Mayor Rod Davies says the expansion of the city's -- and the area's -- largest employer is huge news for the Maple City.
"It's good to have so many people who are responsible for one of the most significant economic developments in the city's history," Davies said.
Davies was referring to state and and local officials, along with officials from Farmland Foods and parent company Smithfield Foods, all at a press conference Monday to announce almost $9 million in grants and tax credits Smithfield will get in order to help expand their Monmouth plant -- part of $20 million worth of expansion.
Farmland Senior Vice President of Operations Todd Gerken says a new harvest floor, technology upgrades, and work on the plant's wastewater treatment facilities will all, in his words, enhance competitiveness.
"These investments will not only accommodate increased production here at Farmland, they will also improve the environmental footprint of this facility," Gerken said. "Farmland has a long, successful history here in Monmouth, and I believe these projects pave the way to its successful future."
State Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Warren Ribley says Farmland is the type of firm that Illinois relies heavily on.
"We are hugely dependent on agriculture; we're a huge agricultural state. And, we're a dominant manufacturing state. We always have been, we always will be," Ribley said. "This facility brings those two industries together in the best of ways."
Many of the upgrades are already being worked on or completed. The plant anticipates adding 50 jobs to the 1,400 positions already there.
(George Richter, President and COO of Smithfield Foods, speaks at a press conference in the new building at Monmouth's Farmland Foods under construction.)
(Monmouth Mayor Rod Davies speaks Monday.)
(A look at the products Farmland Foods in Monmouth produces. WGIL News Story and Photos by Will Stevenson.) |
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