JBS USA Plans $135M Sausage Plant Creating 500 Jobs in Iowa

JBS USA has announced a $135 million investment to build a state-of-the-art sausage production facility in Perry, Iowa, expected to create 500 direct jobs and 250 construction jobs. Construction is slated to begin late 2025, with operations starting in late 2026, initially employing 250 workers on one shift and plans to double the workforce with a second shift later. The plant will produce 130 million pounds of sausage annually by processing 500,000 sows, feeding over four million people nationwide and addressing growing demand for high-quality protein. JBS CEO Wesley Batista Filho emphasized the company's commitment to rural America and the strength of the U.S. market, aiming to be a long-term partner fostering job creation and economic stability. The project is particularly significant for Perry after Tyson Foods closed its pork processing facility there last year, which impacted more than 1,200 employees. Local leaders, including Perry's mayor, have welcomed the investment, highlighting its potential to revitalize the community's economy, schools, and infrastructure.