By Ezra Mann of the Commerical Staff

December 19, 2007.... The city of Pine Bluff could gain as many as 300 new jobs in the near future when a new poultry processing operation opens its doors in 2008.

A press conference was held Tuesday at the Economic Development Alliance of Jefferson County announcing that Pine Bluff Poultry LLC would be the newest addition to the food industry in the area.

The operation will be located at the former Tyson Foods plant at 2202 W. 2nd Ave. once the agreement to purchase the building has been finalized.  The facility sits on 5.4 acres and covers 68,000 square feet.  The former Tyson plant closed in January 2004, moving half its 300 employees to the plant in the Jefferson Industrial Park. 

David Jacobs, one of the principals of Pine Bluff Poultry, said the facility will process spent hens that have laid 58 or so dozen eggs for sale to any number of food-based markets.

Lou Ann Nisbett, president and chief executive officer of The Alliance, said $5 million will be directly invested into the economy as a result of the business.

Jacobs said that the facility will be able to initially process 60,000 chickens with an initial staff of 150 with both staff and chicken processing numbers to possibly double once a second shift is added.  He noted the company hopes to start in April and have up to 300 employees at the end of 2008.

“It’s always rewarding when we can report that an industry has selected our community for their new project,” Nisbett told a standing-room-only crowd in The Alliance meeting room.

Pine Bluff Mayor Carl A. Redus Jr. said that he was pleased with the hard work of The Alliance and groups like the 20/20 Initiative in bringing a better quality of life to Southeast Arkansas.  He added that the new industry is a vital component in reshaping the city for the future.

“Today’s announcement demonstrates the faith investors have in our community once again and that’s not only the faith in the people in Pine Bluff, but the leadership as well,” Redus added.

Nisbett said this is the first industry to open in Pine Bluff with at least 100 employees in a decade.  In 1997 Rolling Pin Donut Manufacturing Co. opened at 5215 Industrial Dr. and was later acquired by Rich Products in January 2005.  The company closed in October 2005, costing 110 employees their jobs.

The facility was purchased later that year by Jersey Pine Bluff Corp.

Pine Bluff Poultry is allied with Phuellink Investments LLC of Lodi, Calif., in spending $3 million over the next two years to remodel and upgrade the plant, a written statement distributed at the press conference said.  The release also said that David Hollister will be the plant manager.

Jefferson County Judge Mike Holcomb said that he was excited with the prospect of the new business and that hearing the good news at Christmas was a bonus. 

“I think the Lord is just saying Merry Christmas to us all,” Holcomb said.