Pet Food Maker Plans Manufacturing Plant in Rushville

A Missouri-based pet food manufacturer is planning to expand operations to central Indiana. Diamond Pet Foods says it will invest more than $200 million to construct a 700,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility in Rushville and create more than 170 jobs by 2023. The Rush County Economic Development Corp. says the project is one of the largest private investments in the city’s history.

Diamond Pet Foods manufactures a variety of proprietary and private label pet food products.

The EDC says Rushville was chosen after a competitive site selection process. The company cited the city’s business climate and availability of site-ready development land as reasons for its decision.

“With its proximity to suppliers and customers and access to a high-quality workforce, this facility will allow us to continue offering quality pet foods at competitive prices,” Mark Schell, executive vice president at Diamond Pet Foods, said in a news release. “Diamond is family owned and we look forward to adding to our family in a state that’s considered to be ‘the crossroads of America.’”

Schell says the facility will be Diamond Pet Foods’ sixth manufacturing plant in the U.S. The other facilities are located in Missouri, California, South Carolina and Arkansas.

The major investment includes new machinery and equipment. The EDC says the project remains contingent upon approval of state and local incentives.