An unused portion of the former Maytag factory on Monmouth Boulevard will see new life with expanded production by a Galesburg-based meat snack manufacturer.
The Galesburg city council will consider a development agreement next week with Thrushwood Farms Quality Meats, which is a subsidiary of Western Smokehouse Partners.
The agreement is tied to an expansion of the company’s food production and would generate up to 180 manufacturing jobs and represent a $50 million investment, with the city contributing $1 million to support the expansion.
In addition, the company has executed a 10-year lease for 179,000-square feet of the former Maytag factory, which closed in 2004. With the Western Smokehouse Partners expansion, the facility will be fully utilized again, 20 years later.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for the city of Galesburg to aid in the development of a locally founded business and foster their continued growth within our community,” said City Manager Eric Hanson in a release. “Significant long-term investment in jobs and facilities within our community, such as this, serve as economic drivers, benefiting the community as a whole through increased economic investment and prosperity.”
Hanson is recommending approval of the development agreement, which coincides with his administration’s prioritization of “long-term planning, and purposeful initiatives for revitalization of the city through business expansion and job creation,” according to the release.
With the expansion, Western Smokehouse Partners would have more than 350 employees, making it one of the largest employers in the community.
"We are proud to expand our operations again in Galesburg,” said Doug Hankes, Chief Product Officer at Western Smokehouse Partners. “Thrushwood Farms began as a small family start-up in Galesburg, and we are exceptionally pleased to see the company continue to grow within our community.”
Thrushwood Farms dates back to 1978 in Galesburg, when it was founded as a local meat processing plant. It became part of Western Smokehouse Partners in 2020.
The companies have expanded since then and recently executed a 10-year lease for their headquarters at 56 S. Kellogg St. in Galesburg, across from the Orpheum Theatre.
That was part of a previous development agreement, in which the city provided $300,000 and the company agreed to create new administrative and manufacturing jobs, and keep the headquarters in Galesburg.
Hanson said there is a significant need to focus on projects that will move Galesburg forward.
“This development agreement is an excellent opportunity to do just that. We are extremely thankful for Western Smokehouse Partners’ continued investment in Galesburg and look forward to our strong partnership as they expand and grow within our community,” he said.
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