If Aberdeen gets the proposed beef plant, it looks like even more jobs will come to town. And these aren't just low paying jobs.
A blood research/development firm shared some of the spotlight Tuesday at more meetings on tax increment financing sought by a company that wants to build a beef processing plant near Aberdeen.
San Francisco-based IKOR has committed to buying all the blood from the plant and would build its own plant in Aberdeen with 200 to 400 workers to process that blood, officials said. IKOR already has a small presence in Aberdeen, with offices in the east wing of what used to be the high school complex in downtown Aberdeen.
Will IKOR still process blood in Aberdeen if Brown County voters deny Northern Beef Packers the $8.6 million TIF it seeks and builds its plant elsewhere in the state? That was a question Tuesday morning from an audience of about 40 gathered in Hecla to talk about the TIF.
"I believe IKOR will move with the packing plant if the plant goes elsewhere," said Doyle Brasher of Northern Beef.
Average annual pay at IKOR is expected to be $60,000, he said. At the low-end projection of 200 workers, that's a payroll of about $12 million per year. Northern Beef Packers expects an annual payroll of about $18 million for 600 or so workers, Brasher said.
IKOR will use the blood to make pharmaceutical products for the veterinary industry, he said.
Update: Even more businesses plan to locate to Aberdeen following the beef plant.
Recent Comments