Select Genetics, a supplier of commercial genetics for the turkey industry, announced plans last Wednesday to locate a new hatchery in Vigo County, creating up to 100 new jobs by 2018.
The company, which was recently established through the merger of Valley of the Moon Commercial Poults (VOMCP) and Willmar Poultry/Ag Forte, will invest $22 million to establish and equip a new 83,000-square-foot facility in Terre Haute to produce turkey poults for commercial use. Select Genetics, which is headquartered in Willmar, Minn., plans to break ground on the new facility in April and begin production in the spring of 2018. The company will now have nine turkey facilities in the U.S.
"Select Genetics is proud to bring a state-of-the-art turkey hatchery to Vigo County. We value the relationship with and among the community, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and their ability to appreciate the value of this project for both job creation and the larger poultry industry in Indiana," said J. Douglas, chief executive officer of Select Genetics. "Our company is committed to investing in research and development and to promoting the highest standards of animal welfare. These commitments plus a great business environment in Indiana will allow Select Genetics to remain the premier supplier of turkey poults worldwide."
Select Genetics employs more than 1,400 people across the U.S. With the addition of its first Indiana operation, the company plans to begin hiring in January of next year. Interested applicants will be able to apply online in the near future.
"Having a hatchery in Indiana will complement our state's production facilities while creating jobs and adding value to our products," said Ted McKinney, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA). "We are fortunate to have Select Genetics, a world leader in poultry breeding, bringing their state-of-the-art genetics and capabilities to the Hoosier state." Indiana raised more than 19.3 million turkeys in 2015, ranking No. 4 in the U.S.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) offered Select Genetics up to $400,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $150,000 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans.