October 21, 2025

 

JBS expands in Perry, Utah as city leaders seek resolution with Tyson

 

 

Food manufacturing giant JBS has broken ground on a new sausage production facility in Perry, marking a major milestone for a community still recovering from last year's Tyson plant closure.

 

The new facility is expected to create 250 jobs initially, with plans to expand to 500 positions once a second shift is added.

 

Perry Mayor Dirk Cavanaugh expressed optimism about the project.

 

"JBS' investment will bring a lot of opportunity to town," Cavanaugh said. "It will bring good jobs back to Perry so our residents don't have to commute to work, it will attract new businesses and residents to our community and it will also give a boost to our existing businesses."

 

Last week, Rep. Zach Nunn met with local leaders to discuss ongoing efforts to address the impact of Tyson's departure. Nunn emphasised the importance of corporate responsibility in such situations.

 

"This is a two-way street," Nunn said. "If a community is going to be there for a business, then the business needs to be there for a community."

 

Nunn's office is working with Tyson officials to establish benchmarks every 90 days, aiming to transition the now-vacant property into a productive use and prevent it from becoming an eyesore.

 

The closure of Tyson's plant eliminated 1,300 jobs in the city of 8,000 residents and left deep scars on Perry. At Dallas County Hospital, CEO Angela Mortoza reported a US$240,000 increase in bad debt over the past year.

 

"They don't have the health care that they need," Mortoza said, noting a decline in clinic visits and an increase in unpaid medical bills.

 

The Perry Community School District has also been hit hard, losing more than 100 students as families moved away in search of work. Superintendent Clark Wicks said the drop in enrollment has cost the district US$850,000 in funding.

 

"We felt like we were great partners with them," Wicks said of Tyson. "We served their kids who were coming here, and it was disappointing."

 

While the new JBS facility offers a glimmer of hope, local leaders acknowledge it cannot fully replace what was lost. Still, the project represents a fresh start for Perry, with the promise of new opportunities and a brighter future.

 

-      KCCI Des Moines