DENISON, Iowa – Local officials in Denison, Iowa, said Thursday that Farmland Foods had not approached them about a proposed new meat processing plant.

Friday, September 28, 2001

DENISON, Iowa – Local officials in Denison, Iowa, said Thursday that Farmland Foods had not approached them about a proposed new meat processing plant. The Kansas City-based food company says it still reserves a possibility in Denison, but Albert Lea could be the only city with which the company has had negotiations detailing its new facility.

&uot;(Farmland) might be thinking about us, but nobody contacted my office,&uot; said Randy Conrad of the Crawford County Development Corporation. Denison is in Crawford County.

Denison city clerk Marchia Bretey also said, &uot;I haven’t heard of a Farmland plan.&uot;

Farmland’s communications office says Denison is still on the list. It explains the existence of Farmland plant in the city is a major reason for the given consideration.

The Farmland plant in Denison processes 614 million pounds of pork meat a year. Farmland hires about 1,200 workers, and is the largest employer in the mid-eastern Iowa city of 7,339 people.

The impact on the local economy includes $264,000 in annual property taxed to the city and county, and $221 million spending on utilities and other purchases, according to the corporation Web site. It says the yearly payroll to the employees amounts $35.8 million.

Nevertheless, the company’s claimed interest in Denison contrasts with the Albert Lea experience.

Albert Lea Mayor Bob Haukoos said that the city keeps close contact with the Farmland executives. They held a last meeting at the city hall about two weeks ago. And the parties exchanged information about what they can offer each other.

The city has exhibited its incentive package that includes the land swap between the old site and new lot in a southside I-35 industrial park, financial assistance for the new plant, tax-increment financing, and clean-up of the burned facility.

Farmland has detailed the workforce size of the new plant and estimated earnings of the city from water usage and wastewater treatment, according to the city.

Originally, the company named Denison, Carroll, Iowa, Monmouth, Ill., and Albert Lea among other possibilities.

Carroll took itself out of the race on Monday, and the company ruled the city out.

Albert Lea Mayor Bob Haukoos said, &uot;I heard that Denison was interested, but evidently they (Farmland) are not going to be giving a bid for Denison. Then, it would be between Albert Lea and Monmouth, Ill.. We will know, I guess, within 10 days.&uot;

Farmland did not specify the date for the final decision other than saying it would be sometime after Oct. 1. Further meetings with the company are not scheduled, according to Haukoos.