SALT LAKE CITY – Tyson Foods Inc. announced the company will build a $300 million case-ready plant in Utah.

The facility will process cuts of beef and pork into steaks, chops, roasts and grinds. Executives with Tyson currently are reviewing several potential sites in the Salt Lake City area. The plant is projected to create 800 jobs initially, then expand to 1,200 jobs within three years after opening. The company expects the Utah facility to open as soon as 2021.

“We’re excited about building a new food plant in Utah and appreciate the state’s support and the exceptional people we’ve met,” said Nate Hodne, senior vice president and general manager of case ready meats for Tyson Fresh Meats. “We believe Utah is a great location because of the availability of labor and property and the access to highways and rail. Once built, the new facility will help us meet growing demand for case ready meat in the western US.”

To assist with the project, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) board of directors approved an EDTIF post-performance tax credit not to exceed $5,258,324 and a post-performance Industrial Assistance Fund economic opportunity of $300,000 representing 20 percent of the estimated $27,791,620 of new state revenue, which may be earned over 10 years. Tyson will earn a portion of the total tax credit rebate for each year the company meets the criteria in its contract with the state of Utah.

Tyson Fresh Meats, a unit of Tyson Foods, currently operates case-ready plants in Iowa, Tennessee and Texas.