Construction of the Sustainable Beef processing plant on the east side of North Platte is on schedule, CEO David Briggs said as February came to an end, even though, to the causal viewer, relatively little progress has been made.
Briggs said there is a lot of dirt to move yet at the site to raise the elevation and get the plant above the flood zone, and the dirt has to have the right moisture to pack properly.
A well has been drilled on the site so that water is available to apply for proper compaction.
In recent weeks, workers began developing the foundation system, drilling holes 40-feet deep for caisson pilings to support the heavy above-ground structures.
Caissons are similar to column footings, spreading the load over a large area of soil, according to a description by the City University of New York.
Briggs said a lot of the structure is being built off-site and will be shipped in for installation.
“The walls are being formed in Lincoln and will be put up using cranes,” he said.
Overall, construction is expected to span two summers and two winters reaching completion in the fall of 2024.
“So far, we are right on schedule,” he said, “but the completion date will have a lot to do with the weather.”
Briggs said North Platte can expect to continue to see a positive economic impact from the project.
“Right now, contractors are eating and sleeping in North Platte every day,” he said, and that will continue as the project continues. As the population increases, there becomes more demand for goods and services as people move in for jobs.
Briggs expects the project to employ about 300 workers during construction. He said another 500 Nebraskans are expected to arrive to work at the plant when it is built.
(This report was first published in the Bulletin’s March 1 print edition. Photos by Kat Tedder. This report was first published in the Bulletin’s March 1 print edition.) Below: Building the grade, March 1.
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Go for it!
So, can we assume there will be a Sustainable Illegal Alien farm, ensuring that the place has an endless supply of workers?
You are correct Hank. It’s not coincidence the kill plant is being built right next to Highway 83. Straight south into Mexico to get new workers.It is also in the works that the city is going to borrow the name lil Mexico from Mexington and borrow the name lil Somolia from GI.
I do understand that a small room w/o Internet will be constructed just downwind of the plant, to treat cynics who post sarcastic comments to every news article.
How are these racist remarks allowed on here? Is that not profanity? North Platte needs some diversity.
Just because someone wants to be critical of the plant and its effect on NP doesn’t make them a racist. Quit generalizing and provide your reasoning as to why they are being racist. Why didn’t you call them Nazis and Fascists like the rest of the left-wingers? I know cities have to progress to survive but be careful of the direction they take. History has shown the effect on cities like Lex, Madison, and Schuyler. Educational systems will be really the most affected, then the police force. When I was consulting with schools, I saw the tremendous changes in those school systems.
How is bringing 500 people into our town for these jobs helping the people who already live here which deserve first chance to get hired for those jobs and if those jobs can’t get filled by the locals than transfer from other plants true legal Nebraskans to fill the rest of those jobs. People living here should be first in line for those jobs. Our town has homes to buy and rent but I’m sure those people coming here won’t be able to afford 3/4th of them. Otherwise North Platte is going to become a place people won’t want to live. We have one Wal-Mart that’s already heavily packed all the time a place that’s cheaper than two Gary’s grocery stores. We need a Hy-Vee and to build it in the North East of town where there is not so much congestion. Give the residence more choices. Maybe get a Target here to God save North Plate and look after our school system.
Mrs. Gift is on to something….throw in a red Lobster and this town will be a vacation destination fir folks all the way from Wallace to Arnold
Annette is right, but unfortunately it just won’t happen. Gary’s owner has a little pact with the city to not allow another grocery story in town. How that was allowed is beyond me. However have y’all been to Lexington lately. The city is kinda booming. They’re building stuff everywhere. Sure we have our mall that will look nicer than before but with basically the same stores. Oh and we are getting an updated Runza. How many Subway stores do we have…47? No one wants to live here anymore. The railroad died, our schools are wack, and Meth is the only thing to do in town. Insert Hank’s nitwit response here…
I’ve been in contact with HyVee they don’t want to build any further west is why they won’t set up camp here. A Red Lobster would be so awesome here. Only place you can get fried catfish with the tail. I appreciate the Bulletin allowing people to comment. Maybe if the city council and Mayor reads these it will put a bug in their ear of changes that could be nice here.
Annette, glad you like talkback. Thanks for participating.
I read today that the Red Lobster company is losing money — so I’m guessing the company is not overly inclined to expand. There is a labor shortage around town, through the state and most of the country. North Platte residents will be able to apply for jobs in the construction / operation at the beef plant. It’s unlikely there will be anywhere near enough to fill the need, although time will tell.
Businesses, including restaurants, will come to North Platte when they decide it makes financial sense. More of them are interested these days. We wish for our favorite stores sometimes, but a note of caution. Without more residents, businesses will struggle. Also, when towns boom, it certainly brings challenges. North Platte is already the best town in west-central Nebraska. It can become better if we understand how it works and what it takes to make it better.