PERRY, Iowa — A new sausage production facility will bring 500 jobs to Perry, according to an announcement made Thursday by JBS USA.

If approved, construction on the $135 million state-of-the-art facility is expected to begin in late 2025, with an opening scheduled for late 2026.

The company states that it will start with one shift of 250 employees and plans to double its workforce to operate two shifts in the future. The plant will produce 130 million pounds of sausage each year.

“Perry represents everything we value in a community: hard work, strong producer roots, and people who understand the importance of feeding America,” said Wesley Batista Filho, CEO of JBS USA. “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.”

Construction of the facility is expected to create 250 local construction jobs.

Perry was hit hard by the shutdown of the Tyson meat processing plant in June of 2024. The closure left 1,300 people without a job.