Source: Susan Kelly, MEATINGPLACE, 9/7/17


Bladen County, N.C., commissioners approved a five-year incentive package for Smithfield Foods’ planned expansion project in Tar Heel that could be worth up to $4.16 million, according to local media reports.

Smithfield plans to invest $100 million to build a new distribution center and expand its blast cell cold storage capabilities at its Tar Heel processing facility, adding more than 250 new jobs.

The grant will be paid in annual installments based on .574 percent of the appraised value of the new facility and equipment for the given tax year, within a range of $75 million and $145 million -- making each payment between about $430,500 and $832,300 annually, WECT-TV reported.

To remain eligible for the grant, Smithfield must create 270 new permanent, full-time positions with a minimum wage of $14 per hour and maintain 4,500 full-time positions at the Tar Heel site, according to the report.

Smithfield's Tar Heel facility is the largest pork processing plant in the world and produces fresh pork products for customers across the globe. Currently, the facility employs nearly 5,000 people and processes more than 30,000 hogs each day.

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