Future Pure Prairie Farms Expansion Won’t Be on North Main Street
Just over three years since it was last in operation, a Charles City chicken processing plant has returned to production.
Last December, Pure Prairie Farms purchased the former Simply Essentials facility, which had been shut down since August of 2019. At 7 a.m. Wednesday, November 16, operations resumed.
City Administrator Steve Diers says PPF has made a commitment to make the plant’s restart a success.
The USDA funding, totaling almost $46 million, will help PPF with improving the employee wellness area as well as plant expansion, which Diers notes will not be allowed on the one block section of North Main Street the company is leasing with the option to buy from the City.
PPF has said previously they would resume production by employing about 50 people initially. If they reach their full capacity of operations, the plant could employ between 250 and 400.
