WESTFIELD, Wisc. – An expansion project at Brakebush Brothers Inc.’s Mocksville, North Carolina poultry processing plant resulted in the awarding of a $2 million community development block grant to the city.

The grant money will allow the city’s infrastructure to be updated to accommodate Brakebush’s project. Upon completion, the plant, will include three production lines and operate three shifts. The facility, which was purchased from House of Raeford Farms in 2018, is expected to employ about 300 workers with an annual production capacity of 90 million lbs. 

After purchasing the plant, which had been shut down due to damage sustained in a 2017 fire, Brakebush expanded it from 72,000 sq. ft. to 130,000 sq. ft. and installed new equipment in the processing areas.

According to the city, the grant will support the creation of more than 200 jobs, along with a private investment of $60 million.

“We are happy for Mocksville and Davie County to get these dollars to facilitate expansion,” said Carey Brakebush, vice president of facilities and transportation. “Brakebush is thrilled to be in Mocksville and looking forward to what it brings for our company and the community.”

Figures released by Davie County Economic Development said that The Golden LEAF Foundation provided the Mocksville with an additional $450,000 utility infrastructure grant for the project. Also, The North Carolina Dept. of Transportation approved $700,000 in road improvements at US Highway 601 South and Eaton Road to alleviate any traffic concerns related to the plant’s expansion.

Brakebush plans to hire 50 second-shift production workers in addition to filling positions for quality assurance professionals and maintenance and refrigeration technicians.