East Tennessee Beef Plant Moves One Step Closer to Construction Phase

July 6, 2023

USDA grant moves Appalachian Producer’s Coalition project forward, construction anticipated to begin this fall.

A $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) has brought construction of a planned east Tennessee beef processing facility one step closer to reality, with just one more funding hurdle to be cleared before the project can begin, according to local news reports.

The proposed plant, which would be located in Telford, Tenn., had already received a $2 million grant from Washington County. The Appalachian Producer’s Coalition is overseeing the project.

After the final grant the project seeks is approved, construction can begin, which is expected to happen this fall, with completion of the facility expected in winter 2024. The plant will help ease the 12- to 16-month wait times regional ranchers have experienced when their herds have been ready for processing.

It is anticipated that the Telford facility will offer 15,000 square feet of production space, and product from the plant will be sold to local stores and restaurants. The company expects to hire approximately 27 employees to work at the facility.

About the Author

Andy Hanacek | Senior Editor

Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.