Gov. Matt Blunt announced that a state grant will help fund road improvements necessary to accommodate the $1.5 million expansion of George’s Farms, which will add a feed mill. The company will create 27 new jobs as it increases production capacity.
The Missouri Department of Economic Development approved a $266,500 industrial infrastructure Community Development Block Grant for Barry County. The funds will be used to construct entrances into the industrial site from both Highway 37 and Highway W. The project will also include a southbound deceleration lane and a northbound left turn lane.
Springdale, Ark.-based George’s Inc. is a fully integrated poultry operation. The company established a poultry processing plant and a hatchery near Cassville in 1987. Chicken broilers processed at the Missouri plant are distributed to major fast-food chains, grocery food chains, independent grocery stores and institutional customers in the Midwest and western United States. The company will expand its operation by building a new feed mill that will provide feed grain to its area growers and producers and increase demand for local agriculture products.
CDBG funds will be used to help fund the new left and right turning lanes on Highway 37. These road improvements will improve safety and maintain traffic flow through the area as the number of trucks and passenger cars entering the facility increases because of the expansion.
The grant was made under the Community Development Block Grant program, administered by DED. Funds will be released to Barry County as certain requirements set forth by the program are met. The program provides economic development grants and loan funds to cities with a population under 50,000 and counties under 200,000 to assist in the location of new industry and the expansion or retention of existing businesses.
