Wayne Farms plans $70 million expansion

GAINESVILLE - Wayne Farms is planning a $70 million expansion at its poultry products plant at Industrial Park South in Gainesville, creating about 750 new jobs. <br> <br> In a letter to city manager Carlyle Cox, Mike Roberts, Vice President of Operations for Wayne Farms, says it will be a five-year project and will mean another 600 jobs by end of the period.<br> <br> &#34;...we plan to hire 320 employees by the end of the second year of operation,&#34; Roberts wrote. &#34;And, by the end of the fifth year of operation, we expect to be nearing 600 employees.&#34;<br> <br> Roberts added &#34;an additional 150 employees are expected to be hired by our existing facilities in support of our efforts during this expansion.&#34;<br> <br> Roberts says the expansion will require another 600,000 gallons of water-sewer capacity from the city - in increments - over the life of the project.<br> <br> &#34;The...water-sewer requirement is the single most critical issue surrounding our plans to expand,&#34; Roberts wrote.<br> <br> Some city officials expressed concern about the additional water-sewer capacity the expansion would require.<br> <br> The expansion will consist of &#34;portioning, flavoring, and cooking poultry products.&#34;<br> <br> Wayne Farms hopes to begin the work as soon as possible.<br>