DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board on Friday approved $12 million in tax benefits for the proposed JBS USA sausage factory in Perry through the High Quality Jobs program.
Headquartered in Greeley, Colorado, JBS USA plans to invest $135 million in the new 150,000-square-foot facility, creating 250 jobs within the first three years of operations, of which 57 are incented at $31.10 per hour. The plant plans eventually to employ as many as 500 people.
“Today’s announcement is tremendous news for Perry and the entire state of Iowa,” said Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds. “This investment by JBS reflects confidence in Iowa’s workforce, our strong agricultural economy and our commitment to growing vibrant communities. At a time when Perry has faced real challenges, this investment brings renewed hope and opportunity for the hardworking families who call this community home.
JBS Foods is one of the world’s largest food companies with operations in 15 countries. The company provides protein and food solutions to customers and consumers across the globe, processing, preparing and packaging fresh, further-processed and value-added premium protein products under a variety of highly recognized brands.
“This investment aligns with our ongoing commitment to Iowa, our producer partners, team members and the U.S. market as we look to build a best-in-class sausage production facility,” said Wesley Batista Filho, JBS USA CEO. “We are grateful to the state of Iowa for their continued support, and we look forward to being part of the Perry community — creating quality jobs and economic opportunity in the region.”
Plans for the new factory will now require rezoning the 90 acres in the Perry Industrial Park, a step needing the approval of the Perry City Council. The company hopes to begin construction in late 2025 — along with about 250 local construction jobs — and aims to start operations in late 2026.
The announcement is the second economic shot in the arm for Perry in recent weeks. In April ADR Axles USA Inc., an Italian manufacturer of farm machinery, announced it will build and operate a 35-person production facility in the Perry Industrial Park. The new ventures follow the closure last June of the Tyson Fresh Meats factory on Perry’s west side.
