LIVINGSTON, Calif. – Foster Farms and Merced County, California announced a multi-million dollar capital investment project to upgrade and expand the poultry processing plant in Livingston, California.

The company already employs 2,032 people in Merced County and plans to add more jobs with the expansion. State and local leaders also put together a $6.5 million economic incentive package.

“Foster Farms is expanding its Livingston operation to allow for future growth and diversification of our customer mix on the West Coast,” said Laura Flanagan, president and CEO of Foster Farms. “Foster Farms first opened a plant in the City of Livingston in 1959. Since then, we have been very pleased with the quality of the workforce, the access the location provides us to California markets, and the partnership of state and local officials in helping us to succeed in California.”

Foster Farms spokesperson Ira Brill declined to comment on specific capital investment numbers.  

The package includes resources from local and state programs like California Competes, the California Energy Commission Food Production Investment Program, the Merced County Expanded Subsidized Employment Program, the Merced County On-the-Job Training Program, as well as incentives from the City of Livingston.

“This investment by Foster Farms is a major win for the entire Merced County community,” said Mark Hendrickson, director of community and economic development for Merced County. “I’m quite proud of the facilitative role my organization played and wish to congratulate each of our partners who worked at the speed of business to support their effort.”

Construction is already underway, and the expansion is scheduled to be completed by September 2019.

The announcement of the expansion comes just days after CNBC reported that Tyson Foods considered buying Foster Farms for about $2 billion.