The Burlington city council approved a resolution that will allow Western Smokehouse Partners to be part of the city’s urban renewal plan and receive tax incentives for an upcoming $15 to $18 million expansion.
“Western Smokehouse has been going like gangbusters in our community and they continue to add jobs, expand their plant operations,” said City Manager Chad Bird. “And so now they're coming forward with a plan to add square footage and have asked for city tax incentives to do that work as well.”
The city has not yet approved a development agreement for the expansion and incentives. Action taken at Monday's meeting was only to amend the urban renewal plan.
Western Smokehouse Partners manufactures high-quality jerky and meat snacks, such as the Chomps brand. The company is headquartered in Galesburg.
Last year, the Galesburg city council approved a development agreement with Thrushwood Farms Quality Meats, a subsidiary of Western Smokehouse, to expand production in an unused portion of the former Maytag plant.
The company’s Burlington factory opened in 2023 at the former Dresser-Rand facility at 3800 West Ave., and had around 180 employees as of last year. The proposed expansion will add square footage to the factory and add 100 employees.
Taylor Collins, executive director of economic development for Greater Burlington Partnership, told the city council that wages are 12% higher at the Burlington plant than initially projected.
In Galesburg, the company currently has a production facility at Thrushwood Farms, 2860 W. Main St.
Production at Galesburg’s former Maytag plant, 1801 Monmouth Blvd., is expected to begin this fall. The company also operates factories in Greentop, Mo.; Shelly, Idaho; and Springfield, Ill.
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