Charles City corporation receives $56,800 grant

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Economic Development board
on Thursday awarded a $250,000 loan to help open a poultry plant in
Charles City.

Custom Poultry Processing plans to purchase the facility formerly
operated by Allstate Quality Foods in Charles City and to convert
the building. The plant is expected to process 14 million chickens
annually and to employ 126 people.

The company will focus on specialty market segments including fresh
organic, halal and poultry free of antibiotics. Custom Poultry also
will offer private label processing and develop its own brand.
Production is expected to begin by April.

Half of the loan approved Thursday would be forgivable.