Tyson Foods, Inc., Springdale, Ark., announced plans to build a new chicken production complex in Humboldt, Tenn.

The $300 million project is expected to create more than 1,500 local jobs once the new complex begins operation in late 2019.

“Our company has been successfully producing chicken in Tennessee for more than 45 years, so we’re pleased to expand our presence in the state with this major investment,” says Doug Ramsey, group president of poultry. “We’re grateful for the invitation to become part of Humboldt and Gibson County. The location is attractive to us because of the strong support we’ve received from state and local leaders, the existing industrial park and availability of labor, as well as access to feed grains produced in the region.”

The new plant will produce pre-packaged trays of fresh chicken for retail grocery stores nationwide, and is expected to process 1.25 million birds per week, increasing Tyson Foods’ overall production capacity by the same amount.

A chicken complex is comprised of a processing plant, hatchery, a feed mill and related operations. Tyson Foods will build these in and around Humboldt. The plant will be located within the Gibson County Industrial Park, just north of Humboldt, and will contract with area farmers to raise chickens.

“This project will enable us to provide even more fresh chicken to consumers across the country,” says Tom Hayes, president and CEO. “As one of the world’s leading protein companies, we continue to raise the world’s expectations of how much good food can do.”

This is the second major economic development project Tyson Foods has initiated in Tennessee this year. In August, the company announced an $84 million expansion of its Union City, Tenn., operation, which is expected to create about 300 jobs.