GREELEY, COLO. – JBS USA recently announced that it started the Hometown Strong Initiative, a $50 million investment that the company said will add to previous commitments during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect employees and keep jobs for workers.

Recently, JBS and premium branded meat Plumrose USA laid out several initiatives it plans to put in place around the United States.

The meat processing company said the investments would go into a dozen rural communities and 60 meat, poultry, and prepared food plants that employ more than 62,000 people.

First, JBS USA said it would continue to invest at the facilities around its headquarters in Greeley, Colo. The company plans to put $5 million into the city of Greeley to help with ongoing community development.

The company employs more than 5,000 people in Greeley, paying more than $38 million in taxes and has invested nearly $122 million in the state of Colorado over the past five years. The beef production facility supports more than 175 local producers, paying them more than $2 billion per year for their livestock.

“We take great pride in feeding millions of American families every day,” said Andre Nogueira, chief executive officer of JBS USA. “We play an essential role in our local community and in maintaining the nation’s food supply, but we also embrace the important role we have to be a good neighbor. Colorado has faced a tremendous challenge during this pandemic, and we hope our investment can help ensure that our hometown remains strong.”

The company also announced a plan to invest $5 million into facilities in Council Bluffs, Marshalltown and Ottumwa, Iowa. It also donated $2.7 million to the town of Marshalltown. JBS has a major footprint in the state by employing 4,800 people and paying local producers $1.7 billion each year as it processes meat at four facilities. The company said its annual payroll in Iowa is more than $270 million. It contributed more than $30 million in taxes and more than $155 million in capital investments over the last five years.

In Nebraska, JBS announced a $4 million initiative at its Omaha and Grand Island, Neb., facilities. Additionally, the company donated $3.5 million to the town of Grand Island. The company said it employs 4,300 people in the area and pays local producers nearly $2.5 billion per year to process food. JBS USA said it has an annual payroll in Nebraska of more than $191 million, and contributed nearly $34 million in taxes and more than $84 million in capital investments over the last five years.

Next, the company put $3.5 million into its Worthington and Pipestone, Minn., pork plants and its chicken facility in Cold Spring, Minn., as well as donating $2.6 million to the town of Worthington.

Throughout the state, 3,400 people are employed by JBS and pay producers nearly $920 million each year for processing at its facility. The company said its annual payroll in Minnesota is more than $196 million along with almost $60 million in capital investments over the last five years.

JBS also donated $1 million to the city of Green Bay, Wis., to help with continued COVID-19 community response in the area. The company employs more than 1,200 people at its beef production facility and pays $700 million for livestock per year to 1,100 producers.

In Louisville, Ky., JBS announced that it would be donating $1.2 million to help the city with the coronavirus pandemic and longer-term community needs including: food insecurity, community infrastructure and well-being. JBS mentioned initiatives such as improvement in social justice and COVID-19 emergency response and relief efforts. All projects will be determined by the end of the year.

The company pork production facility in Louisville employs nearly 1,200 people with an annual payroll of more than $60 million. The facility supports more than 275 local producers, paying them more than $360 million per year for their livestock.