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New Vernon County Meat Partnership discussed during Coffee with the Mayor event
Among topics discussed Thursday morning during the monthly Coffee with the Mayor event was the recently formed Vernon County Meat Partnership. The partnership is a group of local producers studying the possibility of building a small USDA-inspected red meat processing facility in the area. This could potentially add value to livestock and locally grown produce and could add employment for eight to 10 skilled workers.
Meat Partnership
Vernon County Economic Developer Ben Vickers further elaborated on the new initiative. "This started in late 2019 with a group of farmers here in Vernon County that recognized there was a need for something resembling a slaughterhouse or a butcher shop," noted Vickers. "Then, from there, we've written two grants throughout COVID, and as COVID evolved we recognized some issues with natural supply chains and so we started looking at not just meat processing, but also how we could help local produce farmers."
Vickers noted that the group has also been studying composting.
"Right now, we're at the end of our second grant to study these things," he continued. "After these are complete, we will look at next steps and those could include some sort of processing plant — not necessarily meat and not necessarily vegetables — but, we really don't know what that's going to look like yet and that's why we're doing the study."
Vickers stated that the group is currently doing a survey with as many farmers as they can contact to try to figure out what the market demand would be; how many cattle/pigs/chickens they may need to slaughter; to help value to their products; or how much tonnage of produce they generate every year.
As the group prepares to take next steps in formation of this new business, local input is needed, along with producers who may be interested in supplying livestock or produce for processing, sales, and distribution. Growers are sought to participate in the survey which will indicate interest in the project, and identify the supply of beef, pork, chicken, lamb, goat, and produce that may be locally available.
A feasibility study, conducted by the group of local producers and businesses comprising the Vernon County Meat Partnership, made it clear the project could be successful. Supported by the Missouri Department of Agriculture and Small Business Development Authority, the study indicates that workers would be needed to staff the plant, with a possibility of $200-$400 extra profit per head for beef if processed and delivered directly to consumers.
County Commissioner Cindy Thompson serves on the VC Meat Partnership board, and believes that “This could be a real economic boon to the area, providing jobs for workers and opportunity for producers” who could realize extra value from their work and management.
To fill out the survey, visit VernonCoMeat.com/surveys, or call (417) 262-7870 for more information.
Economic Development
In further economic development news, Mayor George Knox asked Vickers about the status of Domino's Pizza and Pizza Hut moving into new locations.
"My understanding is that we're going to get new locations for both," stated Vickers. "I thought it was just going to be Domino's — it turns out that I think Pizza Hut is also going to get a new location. What I've heard is that Pizza Hut is thinking about not doing dine-in, but just having more of a quick service drive-through type of situation. Domino's is also going to build a new building, but nationally Domino's model is going more towards dine-in."
Overpass
At the top of the Coffee with the Mayor event, Mayor Knox noted that (according to MoDOT) the date for repairs to begin on the overpass has yet again been postponed until October.