JBS USA, the world’s leading producer of animal protein, announced Thursday its plans to build a 150,000-square-foot, greenfield sausage-making facility on 90 acres in the Perry Industrial Park.
“Perry represents everything we value in a community,” said Wesley Batista Filho, CEO of JBS USA, “hard work, strong producer roots and people who understand the importance of feeding America. This investment underscores our commitment to rural America and our confidence in the strength of the U.S. market. We plan to be a long-term partner for Perry and, if approved by the community, the facility will help foster job creation and economic stability in the region.”
The $135 million project will bring 500 direct jobs to Perry, Batista Filho said, with a single shift of 250 workers to start and eventually a second shift, employing a further 250 people. The plant will turn some 500,000 sows into 130 million pounds of fresh sausage annually, enough to feed more than four million people nationwide each year.
Batista Filho said the investment is part of JBS USA’s broader strategy to serve as America’s leading food producer, while strengthening rural communities through job creation, economic development and community support programs. The company employs about 78,000 people in more than 110 facilities across the U.S.
Perry Mayor Dirk Cavanaugh welcomed the news and said the new plant will have a positive impact on the Perry economy and workforce.
“This is a potential game-changer for Perry,” Cavanaugh said. “JBS USA’s intentions to invest here reflects the resilience and promise of our community. This facility will not only create good-paying jobs but also provide long-term benefits for our schools, infrastructure and local businesses. We’re looking forward to JBS USA sharing more about their plans for Perry and to building a brighter future together.”
Perry-area pork producers were equally pleased with the announcement and praised the project’s potential opportunities.
Aaron Juergens, a pig farmer from Carroll and president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, said he was “excited to see continued investment in Iowa’s pork industry with the proposed opening of this new processing facility.” He called it “a win for pig farmers, Iowa’s economy and for the Perry area.”
Nikki Richardson, head of JBS USA corporate communications, said the company chose Perry for its new plant because the town is “strategically located” and has a workforce that “understands food production.” The company has four other production plants in Iowa, she said.
Richardson also said the company found an “alignment of values” in Perry and other “intangible components” in interacting with the community’s leadership over the last few months during which the deal took shape. She said Cavanaugh and Perry City Administrator Sven Peterson were “great to work with” during the process.
In addition to creating jobs, JBS USA will extend its signature Hometown Strong and Better Futures programs to Perry, Richardson said. Hometown Strong has invested more than $100 million in rural communities across the U.S. and Canada, supporting projects such as new community centers, affordable housing, school improvements, athletic facilities, childcare enhancements, parks and other projects. The Better Futures program provides free community college tuition for JBS USA team members and their children, helping families develop personally and professionally.
“We believe in giving back to the communities we call home,” said Batista Filho. “Our investments in Perry will go beyond dollars. They will help build careers, strengthen families and ensure a thriving community for generations to come.”
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.
