(NORWALK, Iowa) Norwalk's getting an $85 million regional manufacturing and distribution plant. Michael Foods plans to break ground this spring on a 150-thousand square foot facility on Highway 28 and Delaware Street, next to the Windsor Windows production plant.
The company expects to hire up to 150 employees from entry-level positions on up. There are also plans to expand the facility eventually and add up to 220 employees.
Holly Askey, Norwalk's Economic Development Director tells WHO News the company chose Norwalk over several sites due to it's location near major highways and the Des Moines International Airport. She also says area highways will be able to handle the additional truck traffic.
Michael Foods is a $2 billion manufacturer and distributor of food service, food ingredient and retail offerings and the nation's largest processor of value-added eggs.
The company's brands include Papetti’s and Simply Potatoes. The plant will be one of the largest industrial projects in Iowa and one of the largest tax payers in Warren County.
Askey says talks had been underway for the past year on the project, and the company had been considering several locations.
She says Michael Foods will receive state tax incentives. The city of Norwalk is providing a 20-year, 65-percent rebate on property taxes, as well as high quality job grants.