DAVENPORT, IOWA — Fair Oaks Foods, based in Pleasant Prairie, Wis., broke ground Sept. 1 on its latest $134 million bacon production facility.

Local officials were on hand to applaud the new project built in the Quad Cities area.

“I am excited that Fair Oaks Foods has chosen to make Davenport and the Eastern Iowa Industrial Center home of their new manufacturing facility,” said Mike Matson, mayor of Davenport. “Their ability to quickly break ground on this new facility shows that the Quad Cities is well prepared with shovel-ready sites for businesses looking to locate or expand their business here.”

Fair Oaks previously announced its plans to build the 150,000-square-foot facility and expects to hire around 247 employees once the project is completed.

“After looking at over 100 sites across the US, we believe the Quad Cities is one of the best locations we could have chosen — a solid community with a diverse workforce and family values, to support our companies’ values and growth,” said Michael L. Thompson, president and chief executive officer, Fair Oaks Foods.

Joseph M. Fred, chief operating officer of the company, said the entire development process took two years. He anticipated that the facility’s opening could happen in early 2024 with the plant hiring process starting next year.

The new endeavor is projected to have a $182 million annual economic impact on the area according to Tami Petsch, vice president, business and economic growth for the Quad Cities Chamber.

Fair Oaks partnered with The Austin Company for the construction of the facility. It will support roughly 250 construction jobs while the plant is being built.

As part of the project, the Davenport City Council provided a 60% Tax Increment Finance (TIF) rebate to the company for 15 years. The company also received a $3.4 million sales tax refund on construction materials from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA).

Founded in 1985, Fair Oaks is the 11th largest Black-owned business in the United States. Throughout its network, the company produces and supplies a variety of protein products, including bacon, meatballs, pork and turkey sausage, to food service, national grocery stores and quick-serve restaurants.