Leading food processor to invest more than $300 million
HUMBOLDT, Tenn. — Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and Tyson Food, Inc. officials announced today that the company will locate new operations in Gibson County.
Leading food processor, Tyson Foods, will create more than 1,500 jobs and invest over $300 million in Humboldt, which represents Tyson’s biggest investment in Tennessee and the single largest investment in Gibson County’s history.
“I want to thank Tyson Foods for choosing Humboldt as the location for its new operations and for creating 1,500 new jobs in Gibson County,” Haslam said. “The new facility will be Tyson’s fifth location in Tennessee and it means a great deal that a company of this magnitude continues to grow its footprint in our state. I appreciate Tyson for its continued commitment to Tennessee and for helping us get one step closer to our goal of making Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”
“Today’s announcement that Tyson Foods will invest $300 million and create 1,500 jobs is great news for the people of Gibson County,” U.S. Sen. Bob Corker said. “Companies continue to thrive in Tennessee because of our strong business climate and commitment to workforce development, and I applaud Governor Haslam and Commissioner Rolfe for all they do to make investments like this possible.”
Tyson Foods is one of the world’s largest food processing companies. The company produces chicken, beef and pork, as well as prepared foods. The company offers food products under Tyson, Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Sara Lee, Ball Park, Wright, Aidells and State Fair brands. Tyson currently has four facilities in Tennessee and employs approximately 5,000 Tennesseans.
“I want to congratulate Tyson Foods on locating its new facility in Gibson County,” Rolfe said. “Tyson’s decision to select Humboldt to invest over $300 million and create 1,500 new jobs will be transformational to this area of West Tennessee. Tyson has been a great partner to our state for 45 years, and I want to thank the company for making the largest investment in Gibson County’s history.”
“Our company has been successfully producing chicken in Tennessee for more than 45 years, so we’re pleased to expand our presence in the state with this major investment,” said Doug Ramsey, group president of poultry for Tyson Foods. “We’re grateful for the invitation to become part of Humboldt and Gibson County. The location is attractive to us because of the strong support we’ve received from state and local leaders, the existing industrial park and availability of labor, as well as access to feed grains produced in the region.”
Tyson will locate its new facility on the Select Tennessee Certified Gibson County Industrial Park North site in Humboldt. The new facility will operate as a tray pack facility, which will include a hatchery, processing facility and feed mill. The facility is set to be fully operational by 2019.
“We are proud that Tyson has chosen our state and this community for this project,” Commissioner of Agriculture Jai Templeton said. “Every new job benefits a family. Every new market opportunity for poultry and grain producers benefits our farmers. Every dollar invested benefits Humboldt and Gibson County, as well as the surrounding counties. And when rural Tennessee prospers, all of Tennessee prospers.”
Local officials and the Tennessee Valley Authority thanked Tyson Foods for its investment and new jobs in Gibson County.
“This is an historic day for Humboldt, Gibson County and West Tennessee,” Humboldt Mayor Marvin Sikes said. “I want to thank Tyson Foods for its commitment to our community and region. The significant job creation and capital investment that will result from this project will have a positive impact on our community that will last for many years, and I could not be more excited about the future of Humboldt and Gibson County.”
“Many years of dedicated work from countless Gibson County citizens and volunteers have laid the foundation for the arrival of this day,” Gibson County Mayor Tom Witherspoon said. “There is not a doubt in my mind that Tyson Foods’ tremendous job creation and capital investment will have a long lasting, positive impact in Gibson County that will ring in a new era of economic growth bringing opportunity for all of our citizens.”
“TVA and Humboldt Utilities are excited to congratulate Tyson Foods on its decision to locate in Gibson County and create over one thousand new job opportunities,” TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development John Bradley said. “Helping to foster job creation and investment in the Valley is fundamental to TVA’s mission of service and we are proud to partner with Gibson County Economic Development, City of Humboldt, Gibson County Chamber of Commerce, Humboldt Chamber of Commerce and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to help further that mission.”
Humboldt and Gibson County are represented by Sen. John Stevens (R – Huntingdon) and Rep. Curtis Halford (R – Dyer) in the Tennessee General Assembly.
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies that help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. To grow and strengthen Team Tennessee, the department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tnecd.com. Follow us on Twitter: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd.
###
