WATERLOO, Iowa – Officials with Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. and the city of Waterloo announced plans to expand its pork-processing plant there on Sept. 22, as part of a $28 million project that is expected to create approximately 245 new jobs.

“The expansion of our Waterloo pork complex is great news for our plant, our community and our customers,” said Shane Miller, senior vice president of Tyson Fresh Meats’ pork division in an email to MEAT+POULTRY. 

The project will add more than 56,000 sq. ft. of space to the nearly 540,000-sq.-ft. plant, and a renovation of an existing 56,400 sq. ft. is also part of the project, according to a Sept. 22 report from the Cedar Valley Business Monthly. Tyson received approximately $2 million in tax credits approved by the Iowa Economic Development Authority to be divided between equipment costs and equipment investments, according to the report, in addition to $396,000 in sales and tax refunds as part of the project. The addition would bring employment at the plant to nearly 3,150 people including about 225 new production jobs, eight management jobs and two support positions.