Michael Foods, a $2 billion manufacturer and distributor of food service, food ingredient and retail offerings and the nation's largest processor of value-added eggs, has selected Norwalk, IA as its preferred location for a new regional manufacturing and distribution facility. Contingent upon securing state and local assistance, the project will create 100-150 full-time jobs initially.
The company, whose brands include Papetti’s and Simply Potatoes, is proposing to build a 150,000-square-foot facility on Highway 28 and Delaware Street on the remaining 33 acres of Norwalk’s ‘Certified Site’.
Once complete, Michael Food’s capital investment is expected to be more than $85 million, making it one of the largest industrial projects to land in Iowa and one of the largest tax payers in Warren County.
Norwalk was selected as the preferred site over other sites in Iowa and Nebraska due to its strong economy, good workforce, and proximity to Interstates 35 and 80, Highway 5 and the Des Moines International Airport.
“Having a certified shovel-ready site was crucial to landing this game-changing project in Norwalk,” said Hollie Askey, Norwalk’s Economic Development Director, “We’re grateful to the Greater Des Moines Partnership and the Iowa Economic Development Authority for their assistance in attracting quality jobs to our city."
In order to help offset high development, utility, and property tax costs for the company, the City of Norwalk has implemented a new bulk water user rate and approved a 20-year, 65 percent TIF rebate, as well as a high-quality jobs grant of $1,000 per qualifying full-time position.
