AgriStar receives grant to expand production

by Sharon Drahn
Postville Herald

A grant has been awarded to AgriStar Meat and Poultry (formerly Agriprocessors) of Postville in the amount of $600,000. The grant money, plant owners have announced, will be used to fund expansion to add a line of oven-baked beef and poultry.
The grant was approved last week by The Iowa Department of Economic Development Board. Hershey Friedman, plant owner, said the company expects to create 168 new jobs and retain 140 existing jobs with the new products they are anticipating. Previously, the kosher meat packing plant, supplied only uncooked beef and poultry, both kosher and non-kosher.

At the end of last month, the number of employees on the plant's payroll was estimated at 350. When the expansion is completed, the number of workers will be near 500. It is further anticipated that the number of employees will continue to grow as expansion and renovation continue.