Alberta Meat Plant Gains Momentum

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Alberta meat plant gains momentum
this document web posted: Wednesday March 16, 2005 20050317p106

By Barbara Duckworth
Calgary bureau

A closed border seems to be the impetus southern Alberta producers needed to support a local packing plant initiative.

The Northwest Cattlemen's Alliance is holding a public meeting at 7 p.m. March 17 in Picture Butte's community centre to present its business plan and plant design, said organizer Doug Munton.

So far, 100 producers put up $100,000 for a feasibility study and business plan for a 2,000-head-a-day plant to be built near Lethbridge. The U.S. court injunction that closed the border indefinitely convinced more people to come on side.

"After Wednesday (March 2) everybody seems determined that we have to take care of our own destiny," said Munton.

The plant is likely going to cost more than $100 million.

Organizers have not asked the province for money. The plant will be owned by a new generation co-operative, investors and an additional partner. A board of directors will be elected from this group.

About 120,000 head of cattle have been committed and the group hopes to have 250,000 head signed up. The group has approached two municipalities to build and has not met resistance to date.

A promise from the provincial government to commit $30 million to market development may not be necessary.

"We need to get these cattle processed and they'll find a home," Munton said.

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AMEN , to that!