Main St. to expand production capacity. This expansion will require the addition of 50 new positions. (JAY REDFERN/WGIL)
The Galesburg City Council is set to review a proposed $100,000 Major Project Grant for Thrushwood Farms Quality Meats, Inc., which would support a major expansion at the company’s West Main Street facility, creating 50 new jobs and investing $22 million in local infrastructure.
The agenda item, scheduled for discussion at the council meeting Monday night, highlights Thrushwood’s plans to enhance production capacity at its facility at 2860 W. Main St. This project is distinct from the company’s recent commitments, including a 10-year lease at the former Maytag facility at 1801 Monmouth Blvd. with 150-180 new jobs, as well as prior agreements that established corporate headquarters in Galesburg and added 25 positions overall.
The company anticipates a workforce of 350 in the Galesburg community once it’s at full production capacity.
Thrushwood’s Growth and Economic Impact
Founded in Galesburg in 1978 as a family-owned farm-to-table meat processing operation, Thrushwood has grown significantly over the decades. In 2020, it became a division of Western Smokehouse Partners and currently employs 141 staff at the West Main facility. The proposed expansion would increase the headcount to at least 191, with new roles including packaging technicians, processing technicians, and maintenance technicians. These positions offer an average hourly wage of $19.25, approximately $40,040 annually, with hiring expected to begin in fall 2025.
In a letter dated August 25, 2025, the Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development strongly endorsed the grant, highlighting its alignment with the city’s Major Project Incentive program, created in 2019. C. Mark Williams, Senior Vice President, wrote that Thrushwood plans to hire 50 new full-time workers at the West Main facility, distinct from the Monmouth Boulevard project in the former Maytag facility. He noted the $22 million investment and the $19.25 average hourly wage for the new roles, which include packaging, processing, and maintenance technicians, with hiring expected in fall 2025.
“These dollars will assist one of our region’s fastest-growing companies with adding new job opportunities and continued growth and investment,” Williams said.
Community and Company Perspectives
In a statement to WGIL, Doug Hankes, Chief Operating Officer of Western Smokehouse Partners, expressed enthusiasm about the company’s growth.
“As we prepare to finalize the facility improvements at both Galesburg locations in the month of October, Western Smokehouse Partners is proud to continue investing in the region and creating opportunities for career growth. Once fully operational, these plants will produce more than 1.2 million meat sticks each day, establishing Galesburg as a vital hub in our company’s growth.”
Hankes noted that both the West Main Street and Monmouth Boulevard facilities will focus on producing meat sticks, with the former Maytag site dedicated to a single customer.
Galesburg City Manager Eric Hanson told WGIL, “Western Smokehouse Partners is an outstanding partner, and we’re thrilled by their continued investment and expansion in Galesburg, exemplifying their confidence in Galesburg as an excellent location for their manufacturing business. This collaboration has led to the creation of over 200 new jobs in the last year, bringing their total local manufacturing workforce to over 300.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have a company of this caliber not only headquartered here but also actively growing its operations in our community. We look forward to our continued partnership with WSP and thank their entire team for their belief and investment in Galesburg.”
If approved, the grant would be funded from the city’s Economic Development Fund.
