MEXICO, Mo. (KMIZ)

Western Smokehouse Partners will invest more than $67 million to build a new manufacturing facility in Mexico, Missouri, according to a Thursday press release from the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

The new facility is expected to create 280 new jobs, the release says. The 300,000-square-foot facility – which will specialize in the production of CHOMPS brand meat sticks – is expected to open by the end of summer 2025, the release says.

After the Mexico location is built, the company will have six facilities with more than 1,100 employees, the release says. Other facility locations include Greentop, Missouri; Burlington, Iowa; Galesburg, Illinois; Springfield, Illinois; and Shelley, Indiana, according to the business’ website.

“We are very excited to continue our growth by opening this new plant in partnership with CHOMPS,” Matt Bormann, CEO of Western Smokehouse Partners, said in the release. “The City of Mexico and State of Missouri’s welcoming and support was essential to our decision to further expand our presence in Missouri. This expansion is a testament to our dedication to meeting the growing demand for better-for-you meat snacks and we look forward to growing in this location for years to come.”

The release says that Western Smokehouse Partners will benefit from the Missouri Works program, which helps companies expand and retain workers by providing access to capital through withholdings or tax credits for job creation. It is also getting assistance from Missouri One State, which helps businesses with recruitment and training, the statement says.