The community of Moose Jaw, which has been hit hard by corporations forced to close their doors after the economic downturn, now sees a glimmer of hope.
Donald Fine Foods is re-opening the Thundercreek Pork processing plant that has been closed for four years.
On Friday the federal government provided Donald Fine Foods with a $1.7 million loan to purchase new equipment and bring the aging facility back up to standard.
“(They) took an existing facility, updated it, refurbished it and enhanced its position as a working facility,” Palliser MP Ray Boughen said. “It also lends employment for 200-plus people.”
The news is welcomed by the city, especially after XL Beef closed its doors in August.
“It really hurt the city,” Boughen said. “You can’t take those kinds of jobs out of your economic base and not be hurt.”
Moose Jaw hopes the spruced up plant can rejuvenate their production industry.
“When something closes because of the economy, it’s a bit of a downturn in terms of spirit,” Mayor Glenn Hagel said. “But this is the other side of that coin.”
The hiring process begins December 15, with the facility expected to begin production in mid-to-late January.
During the summer the Saskatchewan Cattlemans Association warned the XL closure would hurt producers’ bottom line. Now Moose Jaw residents are hoping the opposite will happen with the reopening of the pork processing plant.
“To put it simply, instead of taking the hogs to the plant in B.C., they’re bringing the plant to the hogs,” Hagel said. “That makes economic sense and we’re very appreciative of that reality here in Moose Jaw.”
Currently, around 10 per cent of Canada’s swine production happens in Saskatchewan. The new plant is expected to process 300,000 hogs each year once it is up and running.
It is big news to reinstate moral in the city.
“There are going to be over 200 people living in Moose Jaw who are going to be working here,” Hagel said. “What a great thing to find out around Christmas time.”
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