HAMPTON, IOWA – The main economic development agency in Franklin county claimed today that a big ag business considered that county for a development that would have employed “hundreds” – but the company passed on a deal.
According to a social media post from the Franklin County Development Association, an attempt was made by that agency to get in the mix to lure an agriculture-based company, worth hundreds of jobs, but the attempt was unsuccessful:
“Just wanted to pass along that several months ago by now FCDA was asked to submit information for an ag-related business that would have employed hundreds of people. I felt we were competitive knowing that other communities would face the same challenges as us so I submitted the information requested. Having said that I had real doubts about this area being seriously considered. Ends up I was right. I received notice from the state that the company is looking at a different area, and in fact at other states. You win some, you lose some, but you always need to be trying.”
As NIT reported previously, Franklin county also failed in an attempt to lure Prestage Foods and its massive, proposed slaughterhouse to the Hampton area. This attempt was made in June of 2016, after the Mason City council spurned the development. Many in the region are fed up with big ag and the alleged negative environmental impact those kinds of operations may bring to the air, ground and water. The two sides clashed when pro-Prestage Hampton Mayor Brook Boehmler called out “haters from the North” who disagreed with him on Prestage.
