The Galesburg City Council is set to consider a development agreement with Thrushwood Farms Quality Meats, Inc., a subsidiary of Western Smokehouse Partners, at the October 7, 2024 City Council meeting, which would bring additional investment and jobs to the community. The agreement revolves around an expansion of the company’s food production, which would create 150 – 180 manufacturing jobs, generate $50 million in investment, and breathe new life into the unused portion of the former Maytag facility located on Monmouth Boulevard.
“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. “Significant long-term investment in jobs and facilities within our community, such as this, serve as economic drivers, benefitting the community as a whole through increased economic investment and prosperity.”
Thrushwood Farms was founded in Galesburg in 1978 as a local meat processing plant. The operation has grown and adapted over time, including cultivating a specialization in snack stick production. In 2020, Thrushwood Farms became part of Western Smokehouse Partners, and the companies have continued to grow together since that time, including recently executing a 10-year lease to locate the Western Smokehouse Partners headquarters at 56 S. Kellogg Street in Galesburg. As part of that project, Western Smokehouse Partners entered into a development agreement with the City of Galesburg in May of 2024, in which the City provided $300,000 to aid in the local expansion that included a 10 year lease for their headquarters in Galesburg, retaining seven headquarter jobs with a minimum payroll of $500,000, creating ten headquarters jobs with a minimum payroll of $1 million, and creating 15 manufacturing jobs with a minimum payroll of $675,000. All said and done, that previously announced expansion project creates 32 local jobs with a total positive economic impact of $2,175,000.
“We believe in the potential of this community and are excited to create new jobs that will provide stability and prosperity for local families,” said Matt Bormann, Chief Executive Officer, Western Smokehouse Partners. “This project will not only increase our production capacity but also strengthen our ties to the community, fostering a collaborative environment.”
This newest development agreement with Western Smokehouse Partners before the City Council on October 7th will see further expansion of snack stick production, resulting in job creation and significant investment in local facilities. The company has executed a 10-year lease for 179,000 square feet of the former Maytag facility on Monmouth Boulevard. This move will allow for the expansion of food production operations, initially creating 150 – 180 new manufacturing jobs and generating $45 – $50 million in investment. Under the terms of the proposed agreement, the City of Galesburg will contribute $1 million in economic support to facilitate the viability of the project moving forward in the community.
The Galesburg City Manager has recommended approval of the development agreement, which coincides with the new administration’s prioritization of long-term planning, and purposeful initiatives for revitalization of the city through business expansion and job creation.
“We are proud to expand our operations again in Galesburg,” said Doug Hankes, Chief Product Officer, 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.”
After this most recent expansion, Western Smokehouse Partner will employ over 350 total employees in Galesburg, making the organization one of the largest employers in the community.
“This is an amazing project that will be transformative for the region. I can’t overstate how exciting it is to see a home-grown company in one of our region’s targeted growth industries undertake an expansion of this magnitude,” said Ken Springer, President, Knox County Partnership for Economic Development. “This project reflects our community’s commitment to growing our skilled workforce and the attractive business environment that we are cultivating in Western Illinois.”
It has been just over twenty years since Maytag closed in September of 2004. To see the facility fully utilized once again is not only symbolic for a community that has long felt the after-effects of the departure of its largest manufacturer, but also economically significant in the literal context of money invested in the revitalization of the property, and jobs created.
“At the end of the day, there is a significant need for Galesburg to focus on the projects and activities that will move the city forward in a substantial and sustainable manner,” said City Manager Hanson. “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.”
***Courtesy of the City of Galesburg***
