BOONEVILLE, Ark. – The Petit Jean Regional Foundation Board has accepted the donation of property and land from Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation, including the site in Booneville, Ark., where a beef plant was destroyed by a fire. The property includes 19 acres of land, improvements including a refrigeration plant and miscellaneous items located on the site. Transfer of title for the property is expected to take place later this month.The agreement was finalized Jan. 5 and will be utilized for job creation activities in the Booneville community.

On March 23, 2008, a fire destroyed the facility and resulted in Cargill shutting down the plant and ultimately deciding to not rebuild it. The plant employed 800 workers before it was closed.