DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Economic Development board on Thursday awarded a $250,000 loan to help open a poultry plant in Charles City.
Custom Poultry Processing plans to purchase the facility formerly operated by Allstate Quality Foods in Charles City and to convert the building. The plant is expected to process 14 million chickens annually and to employ 126 people.
The company will focus on specialty market segments including fresh organic, halal and poultry free of antibiotics. Custom Poultry also will offer private label processing and develop its own brand. Production is expected to begin by April.
Half of the loan approved Thursday would be forgivable.