From Deseret News archives:

Efforts under way to aid turkey plant

Published: Friday, July 4, 2008 12:09 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
MORONI — Help may be on the way for the central Utah company that produces turkeys and turkey products, which had planned to lay off about 450 employees for about three months.

This week, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s office announced that efforts were under way to prevent a shutdown at Moroni Feed Company, a co-op of turkey growers that produces the Norbest brand.

Company officials said last week that because of skyrocketing prices of corn, a main component in turkey feed, the business had become unprofitable.

The company's answer to the problem was to shut down production for about three months, a move that would have affected about 450 workers, some of them permanently. Such action by the largest nongovernment employer in Sanpete County would have a significant impact on the local economy, and perhaps even a small affect on the state's overall economy as well.

But the governor had an answer of his own.

"Upon hearing about this, he directed GOED (the Governor's Office of Economic Development) to begin working on it. This is a thing they've been very aware of and want to do everything they can to alleviate the situation," said Lisa Roskelley, the governor's spokeswoman. "GOED is looking at all the options the state has at its disposal."

Story continues below
"We're going to various government agencies and programs to see what's available to help the situation," said Jason Perry, GOED's executive director.

Foremost among those agencies are the state and federal departments of agriculture.

"Right now, we've been going through financials to see what the picture really looks like for them, so that we can match the right government organization to the problem," Perry said. "That's what's been happening this entire day."

Perry said the assistance package that is eventually put together could include a mix of low-interest loans, tax incentives and perhaps federal grant money. Perry did not say what amount of monetary assistance was being sought.

"We certainly have a dollar range that we have just gathered from the company today, but we've not had our economists review that. I wouldn't feel comfortable saying we have a dollar amount yet," he said Wednesday.

Neither did he indicate a timeline for the package to be finalized and presented. "It's always a process to make sure we understand exactly what the needs are, and that we are prudent with taxpayer dollars as we assist," he said.

Recent comments

Call in ICE first. Then I will consider spending my taxpayer monies...

scarecrow | July 4, 2008 at 1:59 p.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

Rep. bashes Dems over health care

I'm keepin' my health insurance as it is. I got good insurance that pays 70%...

SLC council OKs gay rights policies

Reading the law, Deseret Book and all other properties fully owned by...

I'm sure the Yewts are not posting here any longer. Reason: TCU 35, Yewts 7.

Utes excited for 'dream' game

how's that game going for you guys? And I thought BYU looked really bad...

Let's start with the military. If we were to eliminate the bulk of the...

No. 22 BYU holds off pesky Lobos

Another silly Saturday in the 801. Y'all crack a Gator up.

are slowing down. hmmmm, anything to do with a mouthful of humble pie????

5A: Missed chances doom Alta

Alta fan, when you wrote this, "Hope fully the hawks have a great season next...

Good grief Cougs WTG TCU!! Now that is the way to represent the Conference....

I guesss I'll root for TCU

Advertisements
Advertisement