By Scott Carlson
North Platte Post
NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-Things are booming in the realm of economic development in North Platte.
Last night, the city's Quality Growth Fund Committee and the North Platte/Northwestern Economic Development Fund Committee met to discuss requests for funding from Sustainable Beef, LLC.
The proposed $9 million processing plant would be constructed on the city's east side, near the wastewater treatment plant.
David Briggs of Sustainable Beef addressed the committees.
"We're trying to build a packing plant to help the cattleman in this area, help the city of North Platte, and also help our industry in the United States," said Briggs.
Briggs said the need for this type of facility became apparent in 2019, referencing a fire at the Holcomb, Kansas, Tyson plant.
"Overnight, about 7,000 head a day disappeared from processing," Briggs said. "This really disrupted the entire industry."
Briggs said the plant will process about 1,500 head of cattle each day.
"We're going to have the same overhead whether we did 500 head a day or 1,500 a day," Briggs said. "Processing 1,500 head a day will make us much more efficient."
Briggs said they see the need for about three or four plants of this nature across the region.
Briggs also said the proposed location of the plant would be ideal for this type of operation and will bring numerous ancillary businesses to the area.
Briggs said they have the support of local, state, and federal leadership for the project.
The plant would operate with around 875 employees.
Finally, Briggs referenced an economic impact study by Creighton University economist, Ernie Goss, which estimates a $1 billion benefit to the city every year with 2,000 employees being added city-wide.
The project is requesting $500,000 from both the Northwestern Fund and the Quality Growth Fund, for a total of $1 million.
Sustainable Beef was initially applying for grant funds, but on the recommendation by QGF committee member Pat Keenan, the request transitioned into a forgivable loan.
After discussion, the committee made a motion to approve the funds, contingent upon the approval of the project's redevelopment plan by the city council. A letter of credit will also be required.
The loan will be forgivable when the plant reaches $20 million in payroll.
The meeting was then opened up for public comment.
Concerns addressed the depletion of funds and the availability of funds for small businesses, as well as the proposed location of the plant. Concerns over the environmental impact were also voiced.
The motion passed with unanimous votes.
The recommendation will now be forwarded to the city council for consideration at its August 3 meeting.