The initiative to establish a new meat processing facility in Watauga County, North Carolina, has made significant progress following the Boone Town Council’s approval of essential waste and water services for the site. This development is a key step in bringing the 2020 proposed project to fruition.
The proposed facility, which will be subject to USDA inspection, aims to provide much-needed slaughter and processing services to local producers across several western North Carolina counties, including Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Mitchell, and Watauga.
The demand for such services has been underscored by the meat shortages experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, as detailed in a grant application to the Golden Leaf Foundation.
In response, the foundation has allocated $1 million to the project, which is expected to support approximately 500 regional livestock and pork producers once operational.
The plant is slated for construction on a 2-acre site previously designated as a landfill in Watauga County, just beyond the Boone city limits.
Funding for this venture comes from a $4.2 million pool, sourced from local trusts, the Golden Leaf Foundation, and the Economic Development Administration.
This information was reported by the Watauga Democrat, although a specific timeline for the construction of the facility has not been disclosed. Upon completion, the plant will be operated by the farmer-owned, USDA-certified Watauga Butchery.
