A cooperative of Virginia turkey farmers plans to expand several facilities in the state, officials announced this week — including building a new feed mill that will be the largest on the East Coast.
The Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative outlined a “multi-phase” expansion of several facilities in the northwestern part of the state, headlined by a nearly 2 million-cubic-foot feed mill with what will be the region’s largest grain storage capacity. Virginia officials said that the co-op would be able to buy another 2.4 million bushels of corn and wheat from in-state farms and process an additional 4.5 million turkeys over the next three years.
The cooperative also plans to upgrade the water treatment system at its facility in Hinton, Virginia, and add a rail spur at its location in Linville, Virginia. In total, it plans to spend just shy of $114 million in Rockingham County and create 146 new jobs.
“This collaboration underscores Virginia’s commitment to a strong, competitive, and resilient agricultural economy,” VPGC President and General Manager John King said in a statement. “The project will significantly expand our production capabilities while strengthening our contributions to the local communities where we operate.”
The state approved a $1 million grant from the Virginia Investment Performance Grant to support the project, along with a $500,000 state agriculture and forestry grant and $750,000 from the Virginia Rail Industrial Access Program.
