Swift Prepared Foods is bringing 251 new jobs to Columbia
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Swift Prepared Foods announced plans to build a new $200 million Italian meats and charcuterie production facility.
The company will be bringing in 251 new jobs after the construction of the facility. Jobs will range from warehouse work to upper-level management.
“We’re excited to welcome Swift Prepared Foods to Columbia,” Governor Mike Parson said. “Missouri is a great place for the company to grow its business and develop a world-class workforce. This investment and the jobs it will create will provide many new opportunities for the mid-Missouri region, and we look forward to seeing the company succeed for years to come.”
According to officials, Swift chose Columbia for its strategic location, business-friendly environment, the ability to access raw material, and leverage partnerships with their existing assets.
“We are excited to join the Columbia community and to bring good-paying jobs and innovation to the area with the addition of this new, state-of-the-art facility,” said Thomas Lopez, president and chief operating officer, Swift Prepared Foods. “After an extensive review of potential locations, we are confident that Columbia is a great fit for our company, and this decision supports the continued growth we are focused on achieving.”
“This project will further solidify Columbia’s standing in the food manufacturing industry, complementing other great Columbia employers like Aurora Organic Dairy, Kraft Heinz, Quaker Oats and Beyond Meat,” said Columbia Mayor Brian Treece. “Having Swift Prepared Foods in our community will bring new living-wage jobs and career opportunities for Columbia families.”
ABC 17 News first told you last year about the company's proposal to put the facility on Paris road.
The Boone County Commission approved the company's Chapter 100 bond application for a 75% tax abatement that applies to its personal property and real estate taxes early this year in February.
Columbia City Council voted back in mid-March to extend a sewer main to the site and address the peak demand charges for $1.3 million.
The plant will likely be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
