ConAgra Planning More Indiana Jobs
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA global food company is planning to open a new operation in Frankfort. The ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG) distribution center is expected to create nearly 80 jobs by 2015 and include around 150 positions from a facility in Lebanon. Frankfort Mayor Chris McBarnes believes the city's location and new Ivy Tech Community College campus helped attract ConAgra. The company already has approximately 1,150 employees in Indiana. February 25, 2014
News Release
FRANKFORT, Ind. – Calling it the most significant economic development news in decades, Frankfort and Clinton County officials announced today ConAgra Foods' plans to build a 1.6 million square foot facility on a 288-acre site in Frankfort employing more than 200 workers from a third-party logistics company.
Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, ConAgra Foods' new food grade distribution facility in Frankfort will accommodate the company’s existing operations currently in Lebanon as well as anticipated future growth. A summer groundbreaking is anticipated at the site adjacent to County Road 0, north of the Frankfort Industrial Park.
According to Frankfort Mayor Chris McBarnes, a unified effort by City and County leaders led to Frankfort and Clinton County being selected as home to ConAgra Foods' new distribution center.
“Our area teamwork along with the creation of Frankfort's Economic Development Plan and the creation of our Redevelopment Commission were key elements in attracting ConAgra Foods to our community.
“The Economic Development Plan and Redevelopment Commission were included in our administration's first 100-Day Plan that took effect our first day in office more than two years ago. We knew we needed these economic development tools to strategically prepare Frankfort as an economically viable and appealing home to new corporate citizens such as ConAgra Foods.
“These tools along with the creation of our local Ivy Tech campus that strengthens and enhances our local workforce have all been steps in the making for the past couple of years that have brought us to this celebratory announcement today. Our Industrial Park already is home to two other food manufacturers including Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and Frito-Lay. With the addition of ConAgra Foods on a multi-acre site, Frankfort is beginning to define itself as the city that feeds the state that feeds the world,” McBarnes said.
“Frankfort is a great fit for ConAgra Foods and our new distribution center. There is a good workforce in the area and the location will allow us to address our current and future business needs,” said Bob Masching, Sr. Vice President of Supply Chain for ConAgra Foods. “Selecting Frankfort for our distribution center was made possible through great partnerships between ConAgra Foods and local officials, and we look forward to having a presence in Frankfort.”
Clinton County Commissioners President Bert Weaver noted County officials will work with Frankfort leadership to help provide infrastructure needs for ConAgra Foods.
“We will be working closely with the Mayor's office and the City Council to ensure ConAgra Foods has what it needs to thrive here. What is good for Frankfort is good for Clinton County,” Weaver said.
ConAgra Foods is making a significant investment over the next several years that will begin this summer. City officials have proposed a 20-year Tax Increment Financing incentive to bring ConAgra Foods to the community.
According to City Council President Jim Moyer, the City's annexation plans focus on strategically growing Frankfort's boundaries.
“The ability to expand the City by careful planning through annexation is critically important to our long-term success and thoughtful growth,” Moyer said.
“Just like the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats, the substantial investments ConAgra Foods is making will help grow and strengthen our local tax base,” Clinton County Council President Alan Dunn said. “The financial commitment made will provide long-term growth for the entire County for decades to come.”
According to Clinton County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shan Sheridan, the addition of ConAgra Foods to Frankfort's industrial landscape is significant.
“Our City and County job growth will be greatly enhanced, putting Frankfort on the leading edge of being a major manufacturing base within the State of Indiana. Today's announcement is great economic development news for our entire County,” Sheridan said.
The jobs created as a result of the new distribution center includes approximately 150 positions from the company's distribution center in Lebanon.
ABOUT CONAGRA FOODS
ConAgra Foods, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) is one of North America's largest packaged food companies with branded and private branded food found in 99 percent of America's households, as well as a strong commercial foods business serving restaurants and foodservice operations globally. Consumers can find recognized brands such as Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Egg Beaters, Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Hunt's, Marie Callender's, Orville Redenbacher's, PAM, Peter Pan, Reddi-wip, Slim Jim, Snack Pack and many other ConAgra Foods brands, along with food sold by ConAgra Foods under private brand labels, in grocery, convenience, mass merchandise, club and drug stores. Additionally, ConAgra Foods supplies frozen potato and sweet potato products as well as other vegetable, spice, bakery and grain products to commercial and foodservice customers. ConAgra Foods operates ReadySetEat.com, an interactive recipe website that provides consumers with easy dinner recipes and more. For more information, please visit us at www.conagrafoods.com
ABOUT FRANKFORT
Home to approximately 16,400 residents and the capital seat of Clinton County, Frankfort boasts a warm, small town atmosphere blended with a proactive business-friendly environment and one of the State's only downtown Ivy Tech campuses. Wrapped around City’s government’s four cornerstones of Neighborhood Revitalization, Economic Development, Communications and Citizen Voice, the community’s neighborhoods are being beautified while its world-class industrial park is being leveraged to secure and create not only jobs, but great careers. An excellent school system, Hot Dogs sports teams, nationally-recognized library, active Main Street businesses, City-County airport, six City parks and access to nine major highways and roads add to an appealing and inviting community in which to live, work and play.
Source: The City of Frankfort
February 25, 2014
News Release
FRANKFORT, Ind. – ConAgra Foods (NYSE:CAG), one of North America's largest packaged foods companies, announced plans today to open a new distribution center here, creating approximately 76 new jobs by 2015.
“As a state that works, Indiana is proud to offer companies like ConAgra Foods a low-tax business environment, where they're free to invest more into their companies and grow our Hoosier economy,” said Governor Mike Pence. “Companies with options far and wide continue to choose Indiana for their new facilities, thanks in part to the strong Hoosier workforce that has the skills to move plans from the drawing board into operation.”
The Omaha, Neb-based company will construct and equip a 1.6 million square-foot distribution center in Frankfort. The facility will allow the company to accommodate its existing distribution center in Lebanon, Ind. and provide flexibility to accommodate future expansions for business growth. ConAgra Foods currently employs more than 36,000 employees, including approximately 1,150 in Indiana.
“ConAgra Foods is pleased to announce the development of its new distribution center in Frankfort, Ind. There is a good workforce in the Frankfort area and the location will allow us to address our current and future business needs,” said Bob Masching, senior vice president of supply chain for ConAgra Foods. “Selec