Hastings, Nebraska, has unanimously supported the expansion of the WR Reserve beef plant. This project aims to double the plant’s processing capacity. The Hastings City Council’s decision to seek over $1 million from a state agency marks a significant step in this direction.
Noah’s Ark Processing, known as WR Reserve, plans to invest $43 million over two years. This includes adding 11,000 square feet to the plant and increasing its capacity to process 1,100 cattle daily. The council’s 8-0 vote allows for a state block grant application, intended for working capital and equipment for the expansion, as per the Hastings Tribune.
The project will be funded through state grants, loans, and company investments. It’s expected to create 30 new jobs, prioritising low- to moderate-income workers. The plant currently employs 380 people and was the first to export U.S. beef to Israel in 13 years since 2016.
This expansion follows Noah’s Ark’s legal appeal against a National Labor Relations Board decision, which found the company negotiated in bad faith with union representatives in a 2018 dispute.
