The Plymouth Common Council approved a $750,000 forgivable loan agreement Tuesday night with the Dairy Farmers of America that will help the milk cooperative finance a planned $13.4 million upgrade at its 375,000-square-foot cheese processing plant on the city’s south side. The city’s loan will be forgiven if the plant continues to employ more than 300 full-time equivalent employees over the next five years. The plant currently employs 357 people. Work on the project should begin in the second quarter of 2011 and would wrap up by the end of the year.
By re-investing in the plant, the Kansas City-based Dairy Farmers of America, a milk marketing and dairy foods processor, won’t create new jobs at the plant, 802 South St. — where the company produces Borden Cheese — but the project will help ensure existing jobs remain there, according to city officials. PD
