Pillsbury plans expansion of Joplin location

Pillsbury has announced a $30 million expansion at its Joplin plant, resulting in the creation of more than 150 jobs in the next two years.

The 110,000-square-foot addition will expand the plant's production capacity. Construction is set to begin in January 1999 on two new lines to produce frozen bakery products, according to a release from the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

The DED compiled an incentive package for Pillsbury with information on state resources that are available for its project. These include the Enterprise Zone program, Missouri Customized Training Program funds and a loan through the Missouri State Treasurer's MISSOURI FIRST Linked Deposit Program.

Pillsbury is a Minneapolis, Minn.-based company, the release said, and employs about 18,000 people worldwide. The company produces a wide range of grocery items, frozen foods and refrigerated dough products for international consumer markets. The Joplin facility is one of Pillsbury's bakeries and food-service branches, the release said.

In the release, Rob O'Brian, president of the Joplin Chamber of Commerce, praised the local effort for making the expansion a reality.

"This project is made possible by the continued, strong partnership of the city of Joplin, the chamber of commerce, the R-VIII School District, Jasper County officials, Empire District Electric Company and other members of our economic development team. These team members and the Pillsbury team have worked in unison for nearly a year to bring this latest addition to the community," O'Brian said in the release.

[[In-content Ad]]