While there was a lot of talk and no action this week from Gadsden city leaders regarding the proposed Pilgrim s Pride rendering plant on Steele Station Road, there are now two pending legal actions regarding the plant.
In addition to the lawsuit filed by the firm of Knowles & Sullivan challenging the zoning of the proposed site on Gadsden Airport Authority property, an action filed last week challenges the City of Gadsden, Gadsden Water Works and Sewer Board and Gadsden-Etowah Industrial Development Authority, saying the organizations have failed to provide public records requested by Christie Knowles, who is representing Choice Fabricators Inc. and the nonprofit Advance Etowah.
Koch foods expansion to bring 135 jobs to East Alabama By WBRC Staff | January 19, 2021 at 4:25 PM CST - Updated January 19 at 4:25 PM
GADSDEN, Ala. (WBRC) - Koch Foods announced a nearly $16 million expansion in Gadsden that will make the company Etowah County’s second-largest business employer.
The company is investing $15.9 million to expand the production line at its Gadsden poultry processing facility.
The project is expected to bring 135 jobs over the next three years.
The Gadsden City Council approved a 10-year abatement Tuesday of all state and local non-educational property taxes and all non-educational construction-related transaction taxes.
According to Koch Foods, information from the Gadsden-Etowah Industrial Development Authority estimates that returns will be $50,770 annually for Gadsden City Schools, $19,000 annually for county schools (plus a one-time return of $16,000), and $9,500 annually for state schools.