Tyson Foods Inc. announced Thursday that it is proposing to build a new, 200,000-sq-ft processing facility in Green Forest, AK valued at $136 million.
Employees from Tyson presented the new plant concept, which would provide about 85 jobs when operational, to the finance committee of the Carol County Quorum Court on Wednesday. The initiation of the building plans is contingent on tax abatements from the court, and sales and use tax credits from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC), the company said in a press release.
“This project would allow us to better serve our foodservice customers through improved product mix and greater efficiencies,” said Noel White, president of poultry for Tyson Foods. “This is the first new plant construction project Tyson Foods has proposed to build in a number of years and we’re hopeful we can partner with Carroll County and the AEDC to invest in our home state.”
The proposed facility would be located across the street from Tyson’s existing poultry plant in Green Forest. The plant currently produces a number of partially cooked chicken products for food service and retail, including nuggets and portioned fillets. Tyson said the new project will increase capacity if the facility’s partially cooked chicken products and reduce transportation of products to other locations for processing.
If the plans move forward, the project is expected to be completed by late 2017. The new facility will feature new equipment and production lines, and processes and technology that contribute to food safety, quality, and workplace safety.
