60 New Jobs for Union County and the Region

Tyson Foods Announces Plans to Expand Facility in Monroe

A $9 million investment will lead to the creation of 60 new jobs in Monroe. Tyson Foods, Inc., plans to invest $9 million in new equipment and building improvements at its chicken “tray pack” facility, a Monroe Economic Development statement said.

The Monroe City Council approved an economic development incentive grant that would not exceed $171,120.

The equipment mentioned in the investment is in the processing area, Assistant Director Ron Mahle of Monroe Economic Development said.

“They process 260,000 birds in a 16-hour period every day,” he said. “Basically they run two processing shifts and one cleanup shift.”

Tyson will create the 60 new jobs within a year, Executive Director Chris Plate of Monroe Economic Development said.

The new equipment and building improvements will help with the efficiency of the plant but are not planned to increase production. Additional spin-off jobs could be created from the investment, he said.

Spin-off jobs are opportunities created from companies that contract with Tyson foods such as farmers and hatchery workers. It is not certain how many of these jobs could be created, he said.

“The more competitive this plant is, the less likely it is to go away or be consolidated,” he said. “It gives everyone better job security.”

The 60 new jobs will increase the plant’s total employment to more than 1,500. An estimated economic benefit of $78 million is generated annually by the company’s Monroe poultry complex, the statement said.

“One job will have an impact and that is good but 60 jobs is better,” Mayor Bobby Kilgore said.

He is happy about the new jobs the investment will create and believes it will have a big impact on employment and economic growth in the city, he said.

Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for updates on this exciting development in our region!