VINCENNES, Ind. — Turkey processor Farbest Foods Inc., Huntingburg, Ind., plans to build a new, 220,000-square-foot processing plant on 100 acres near Vincennes, Ind., that is estimated to cost $69 million and be completed in January 2014. The new plant in southwestern Indiana could eventually employ up to 600 workers in the next few years, according to The Associated Press.

The company currently employs approximately 850 workers at plants in nearby Huntingburg and Dubois. Farbest currently produces more than 10 million turkeys per year with about 170 contract growers in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

"Our current facilities for turkey processing, feeding and growing are near full utilization after completing the second shift of operations started in 2007," said Ted Seger, president of the family-owned business, in discussing plans for the new plant.

The processor has already started hiring engineering, administrative and maintenance workers for the new Vincennes plant. The new plant is initially expected to employ approximately 350 workers. More will be hired to work an anticipated second shift that is planned to be added later.

Farbest was offered up to $2.8 million in conditional tax credits and $200,000 in training grants as part of an incentive package by the Indiana Economic Development Corp. A property tax abatement request for the project was also approved by Knox County officials.