(Spencer)– Spencer will get back 85 jobs lost when the Heartland Beef Plant closed.
Quality Refrigeration Services owner Tim Jakes owns the building and says he and some partners are updating the facility and will go into business for themselves.
Jakes says the newly formed company, Quality Processing Services, will be a custom manufacturer and co-packer for processors throughout the country. Jakes says they’ll serve as a value-added company before product leaves the area.
Jakes says the closure of the Heartland Beef operations was a huge disappointment not only to the 85 people that worked there, but to the region’s economy. As a result, Jakes says he and others decided to take things into their own hands and form their own company.
The state of Iowa has approved a 255-thousand dollars forgivable loan to Q-P-S for their 1.3 million dollar expansion project. Spencer Jobs Trust has pledged 255-thousand dollars in assistance and Iowa Lakes Community College will provide 300-thousand dollars in training assistance and tax credits.
Jakes tells KUOO news the remodeling of the facility should be complete by February with operations starting as soon as possible.
