The old John Morrell and Co. plant in central Sioux Falls will get a face-lift and add 70 jobs as the current owner reacts to Americans' hunger for bacon.

Smithfield Foods will invest $45 million in its Sioux Falls operations, according to a Thursday announcement from the company.

Executives for the company say they plan to restore the plant's hog barn to "state-of-the-art" condition.

“At Smithfield, we’re committed to our continual investment in our facilities and farms in Sioux Falls,” President and CEO Kenneth M. Sullivan said in an emailed statement.

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The company has already invested $73 million in the former John Morrell site during the last five years.

In addition to updating the hog barn, this new investment from Smithfield will also include adding capability for a seasoned ground pork department and renovations designed to increase the speed of production of bacon.

The company is reacting to growing demand in the United States for bacon and foreign demand for ground pork.

The updates are scheduled to be finished in 2019, with work on the hog barn set to wrap in the fall.

"With these new projects, we’re proud to further strengthen our presence in this state," Sullivan said.

South Dakota's Governor-Elect Kristi Noem and Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken both applauded the investment.

“I’m thankful for Smithfield’s long-term commitment to Sioux Falls and their continued investment in our community, and proud to partner with them on this project," TenHaken said in an emailed statement.