Industrial Development Board takes next steps to secure Project Protein

Bledsoe County’s Industrial Development Board moved forward with several actions to bring Project Protein to fruition in Pikeville at a meeting on Tuesday, April 7. Project Protein is the state’s project name for a chicken feed production company that has plans of building a facility in Pikeville.

Some of what was approved by the Board includes the purchase of a right-of-way leading to the City-owned industrial site, approving a fast track economic development grant, and other agreements related to the project.

Beth Jones, Director of the Southeast Tennessee Development District, said the company plans to invest $32 million in the feed mill and $55 million throughout their “Crossville Service Region” at breeder farms. 

She added the company plans to create 36 jobs at the feed plant, and 164 jobs throughout surrounding counties at farms.

The meeting was held via teleconference and live streamed via Facebook in order to maintain social distancing guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more on the meeting, see the April 16 issue of The Bledsonian-Banner.