Once again Minnesota and Wisconsin were battling it out, but this time the prize is chickens - Gold'n Plump chickens.
Gold'n Plump announced Thursday morning that it has chosen Wisconsin for its $38 million expansion project.
The expansion will take place at the company's existing facility in Arcadia located in Trempealeau County and will begin in early 2006 with completion expected in 2008.
The expansion will result in an additional 50 full-time jobs at the location.
"It's great for Arcadia and surrounding communities," said Gary Bautch, Arcadia's mayor. "Their added payroll and tax base will help lower our tax base."
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The St. Cloud, Minn.-based company noted that one of the primary reasons for choosing the Arcadia location was that it can increase volume there by an estimated 31 percent with an investment of only $38 million.
State incentives, which included $750,000 for grant loans and $250,000 for employee training, helped sway Gold'n Plump.
Other pluses for the state included access to raw materials for producing feed, the availability of labor and growers along with community interest also contributed to the decision, according to a press release from Gold'n Plump.
"It was determined that the Wisconsin facility has the most potential for improving efficiency and increasing production quickly," said Mike Helgeson, Gold'n Plump chief executive officer.
The company currently has 250 breeder and grower barns through contracts with family farms across central Minnesota and southwestern Wisconsin. The expansion will also require 36 new barns in southwestern Wisconsin.
"This is a really grand expansion," said Rep. Barb Gronemus, D-Whitehall, who's 91st Assembly district includes Arcadia.
"This amount of expansion shows that agriculture remains a very viable business in this state," she added.
The extra feeder farms should also benefit other Arcadia businesses noted Bautch.
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"The extra feeder farms means more farmers using our stores, our churches and our hospital," Bautch said.
He added that the local hospital was on the verge of closing, but the Gold'n Plump expansion along with the previously announced expansion by Ashley Furniture in Arcadia may turn that around.
Another legislator who worked on the project was Sen. Ron Brown, R-Eau Claire. He noted that the expansion will affect other farmers in the region.
"Gold'n Plump's expansion also means a guaranteed local market for over a million bushels of corn and thousands of tons of soybeans every year," Brown said.
Gold'n Plump has been working with officials from both Minnesota and Wisconsin for the past several months to pick a location.
"We appreciate the efforts and opportunities provided by both states," Helgeson said. "Choosing our Wisconsin operations for this expansion made the most sense strategically for the long-term success of the company, our customers, our grower partners and our employees."
Brady Bautch can be reached at internet@rivertowns.net
