Mike Ellis – Representatives of Tyson Foods attended the May 10 meeting of the Green Forest City Council to discuss a major expansion at the poultry plant. Plant Manager Tonya Byers said the $136 million project for further-processing will add 214,000 sq. ft., and create 85 permanent new jobs, with construction starting in mid-summer.
Tyson vice-president Stacy Miller assured city officials the expansion will not cause any additional load at the wastewater plant. “We’ve made so many advancements in saving water,” Miller said, noting that further-processing procedures require much less water than slaughter facilities, and the company does not have any current plans to expand the slaughter sector.
Miller acknowledged that since the plant uses 80 percent of the city’s total water volume, “We know we have to work with the city.” He said Tyson and Green Forest have had a successful partnership since 1967.
Green Forest Mayor Charlie Reece described the relationship as “a good marriage,” and said his parents both worked there and he worked a summer at Tyson’s.
Miller promised a “huge” groundbreaking ceremony for the first major expansion at this plant in more than 20 years. The project is expected to take about 19 months to complete.