“Everybody in the community should have the opportunity to have a good job. These are wonderful, honorable jobs,” he said.

Schreck said officials from the Iowa Economic Development Authority contacted him in December, informing him that the company was looking for a site for a new processing plant and that Mason City was one of the cities under consideration.

“We are pleased that the IEDA came to us — that when they learned of the project, they thought of us,” said Schreck.

Within days, company officials came to Mason City to meet with city and EDC officials and to get a feel for the city, said Bookmeyer.

They got a tour of the city and were shown the proposed site for the facility.

“They were impressed with our community, and still are,” said Bookmeyer.

Schreck said the project in Mason City represents “a huge next step for them and for our community.”