The Iowa Economic Development Authority board announced Friday it had approved $12 million in tax benefits for a JBS Foods sausage production facility planned for Perry.
The IEDA approved the benefits through its High Quality Jobs program, noting that nearly 60 jobs at the sausage making plant will have salaries above $30 per hour.
The plant will employ 250 people the first several years and eventually scale up to 500 jobs, according to the release.
Gov. Kim Reynolds commented on the tax benefit announcement and said the JBS facility was “tremendous news” for Perry and the whole of Iowa.
“This investment by JBS reflects confidence in Iowa’s workforce, our strong agricultural economy, and our commitment to growing vibrant communities,” Reynolds said. “At a time when Perry has faced real challenges, this investment brings renewed hope and opportunity for the hardworking families who call this community home.”
A 1,300-employee Tyson facility shuttered in Perry last summer, leaving a large employment hole in the community.
JBS Foods is building an entirely new facility on the southeast side of town, once the zoning is approved by the city. The facility will have 150,000 square feet of space and represent a $135 million investment.
According to JBS, which announced plans for the facility in late May, the plant will process around 500,000 sows each year, which would equate to 130 million pounds of sausage.
The Brazilian company’s USA CEO Wesley Batista Filho said the company was “grateful” to the state of Iowa for its “continued support.”
“This investment aligns with our ongoing commitment to Iowa, our producer partners, team members and the U.S. market as we look to build a best-in-class sausage production facility,” Batista Filho said in a statement.
The plant is slated to be fully operational in late 2026, and while not officially approved by the city, Perry Mayor Dirk Cavanaugh has been publicly supportive of the project.
“We look forward to being part of the Perry community — creating quality jobs and economic opportunity in the region,” Batista Filho said.
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