Jere Null, COO, confirmed that preliminary work on grading and infrastructure at the site are in the final phases. Epstein is the general contractor leading the $285 million project and approximately 600 people will be working on the plant when construction is at its peak.
“Our earthwork is largely complete at this point. We are working on utilities and will begin steel erection later this month,” Null wrote in an email to MEAT+POULTRY.
Null also clarified that the facility will span 675,000 sq. ft. and capacity at the plant will be 10,000 head per shift, with initial plans for a single-shift operation. He said the slaughter operations will utilize controlled atmosphere stunning technology and the pits for the stunning equipment were recently dug at the job site. When operations start up, the plant will employ 1,050 workers. Prestage is one of five pork plants scheduled to open in 2017 and 2018.
