Idled Plant to Reopen

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) — An idle Iowa meat-processing plant that closed earlier this year after only a few months of operation has been sold.

The Sioux City Journal reports that Lopez Foods paid $5.8 million for the plant in Cherokee, Iowa, and the company plans to restart operations there by early next year.

Previously, the plant was operated by Tyson Foods, but it sat idle from 2014 until 2019. The Iowa Food Group ran short of money several months after reopening the plant near the start of this year.

Bill Anderson with Cherokee Area Economic Development says the plant sale is welcome news. Initially, Lopez Foods plans to hire between 35 and 50 people at the plant.