Oregon Company to Build Plant in Mini-Cassia Area

8/11/2010
Originally in the Magic Valley Times-News, 08-11-2010
Written by Laurie Welch

Burley, ID: A new potato dehydration plant that will bring 50 new jobs to the area broke ground yesterday at the Burley/Heyburn Industrial Park.

City of Burley Economic Developer Doug Manning said the Oregon Potato Co., which will do business in Idaho as Gem State Processing, has its headquarters in Pasco, Wash.

“We’ve been working with company representatives from Gem State Processing for several weeks, and we’re excited to see the beginning of construction,” Manning said in a written statement. “The development will help diversify the local economy and create jobs.”

Manning said Tuesday that during a phone interview that most of the company’s new hires will be local residents.

The company plans to begin operations by the second quarter of 2011, said Bill Schow, general manager for Gem State Processing.

Manning said the company will produce a potato flake that will be used in other products. The company will be located toward the north end of the industrial park.

Burley officials along with officials from the city of Heyburn and Minidoka County and the Boyer Co., which manages the industrial park, have been actively involved in negotiations in order to get the project off the ground, Manning said.

The project contractor is Max Gabbard Construction of Yakima, Wash.

“You never know what might happen because of this one,” Manning said, adding that he may have another economic development announcement later this month.

News tag(s): Business Project_60 Burley