Columbia City Council approves $200 million Italian meat plant

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia City Council approved Swift Prepared Foods' $200 million Italian meat plant during its meeting Monday night.

The plant could bring 251 new jobs to Columbia within the first five years of operation, at annual starting wages in excess of the Boone County Average Wage, which is more than $42,000 a year.

Columbia Mayor Brian Treece said the addition of the meat plant will bring jobs and opportunities to Columbia.

"I'm excited about this project, their experience in other communities is positive," Treece said. "I know its a big investment on our part but I think it fits nicely in the two corridors that we have that make Columbia unique."

Before approval, city council members wanted to make sure the plant employees would make a living wage.

"It appears to me in order to reach the county average our folks have to get into those jobs and get on an upward promotional path and have to have at least 40 hours a week if not the offer of over time," Ward 1 Council Member Pat Fowler said.

Swift Prepared Foods showed the current structure for jobs as a five day week with eight hour shifts. Total new payroll at full capacity is estimated at $13.23 million.

Columbia is one of three sites under consideration for this project, and in order to compete the city will extend a sewer main to the site and address the peak demand charges.

On Feb. 25, the Boone County Commission approved the company's Chapter 100 bond application for a 75% tax break that applies to its personal property and real estate taxes.

The plant will likely be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.