MASON CITY, Iowa – Prestage Foods of Iowa lost its bid to build a $240 million pork processing plant in Mason City.

The City Council voted 3-3 on the measure, which represents a loss. The vote came after councilmembers met for seven hours, according to the Globe Gazette.

“While we are disappointed, we believe there is a bright future in agriculture, and we wish the people of Mason City all the best,” the company said in a statement.

Prestage approached Mason City with plans to build a 650,000-sq.-ft. pork processing facility with a capacity to slaughter 10,000 hogs per day. The new facility represented about 1,000 new jobs for the city with the possibility of expanding to a second shift.

But residents who opposed the project cited concerns about environmental issues related to wastewater and odor in addition to possible impacts on property values and social services needed to accommodate new residents.