REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- Just over a year after Tyson Foods said it was closing its Perry, Iowa, pork processing plant, JBS USA has announced it will build a state-of-the-art sausage production facility in the town.

The $135 million facility is expected to create 500 total direct jobs and an estimated 250 local construction jobs, according to a JBS USA news release. Construction next to Perry's industrial park on the city's southeast side is expected to start in late 2025, with operations slotted for late 2026.

"The new facility plans to produce 130 million pounds of sausage, processing 500,000 sows each year," the release stated.

The facility is expected to begin with one shift of 250 people, with plans to double the workforce and eventually operate two shifts.

"Perry represents everything we value in a community: hard work, strong producer roots, and people who understand the importance of feeding America," Wesley Batista Filho, CEO of JBS USA, said in the release. "We plan to be a long-term partner for Perry, and if approved by the community, the facility will help foster job creation and economic stability in the region."

COMMUNITY WELCOMES FACILITY

Perry City Administrator Sven Peterson told DTN in July 2024 that the city had hoped the Tyson plant would reopen under new ownership, as it had affected so many residents of the town.

The city's mayor, Dirk Cavanaugh, welcomed the JBS announcement.

"This is a potential game-changer for Perry," he said. "JBS USA's intentions to invest here reflects the resilience and promise of our community. This facility will not only create good-paying jobs but also provide long-term benefits for our schools, infrastructure, and local businesses."

Iowa Pork Producers Association President Aaron Juergens, who is also a hog farmer from Carroll, said he's excited to see continued investment in Iowa's pork industry. Iowa is the top pork-producing state in the country.

JBS USA currently has pork facilities in Ottumwa and Marshalltown, Iowa. Tyson was previously Perry's No. 1 employer, and it currently has pork processing facilities in Storm Lake, Waterloo and Columbus Junction, Iowa.

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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