TONGANOXIE, KAN. — On Feb. 24, Hill’s Pet Nutrition was recognized by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly for receiving a Business Facilities 2021 Deal of the Year Impact Award. The award was in the Specialty Manufacturing category, which the company received on Feb. 15.

The new 300,000-square-foot wet pet food manufacturing facility will be a state-of-the-art version of the company’s facility in Topeka, Kan., and will be LEED Certified. Hill’s Pet Nutrition has invested more than $325 million into the project and will create more than 80 jobs for the community

Business Facilities’ Impact Award recognizes both state economic development organizations for securing private investments and companies for their impact on local communities through investments.

“Hill’s Pet Nutrition continues to be a game-changer in helping grow the Animal Health Corridor and bringing new jobs, new investment, and new expertise to our state,” Kelly said. “This impressive recognition is further proof of the significance of Hill’s presence and its impact throughout Kansas.”

The Tonganoxie location places the manufacturing plant along the Animal Health Corridor, which runs from Manhattan, Kan., to Columbia, Mo., and is home to more than 300 pet and animal health and feed companies.

“The impact this state-of-the-art pet food processing plant will have on the community of Tonganoxie is monumental, and I’m pleased to see this win for Kansas and this Kansas-based company,” said Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland. “I’m proud of the partnership and coordination between my team, Hill’s, and the Leavenworth County Development Corporation to land this Deal of the Year Impact Award. I especially want to thank recently retired Leavenworth County Development Corporation President Steve Jack, whose expertise and dedication made this project possible for Leavenworth County.”

The Kansas Department of Commerce partnered with the Leavenworth County Development Corporation (LCDC) and the City of Tonganoxie on the pet food company’s project. LCDC provided communication and Tonganoxie offered local incentives and infrastructure improvements to aid in the planned facility.

“Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s decision to build its new facility in Tonganoxie is great news,” said Josh Hoppes, president, LCDC. “This project will be the largest capital investment ever made by a manufacturer in Leavenworth County. We are pleased to have partnered with the Kansas Department of Commerce and the City of Tonganoxie in locating this state-of-the-art facility to our area.”

The award follows Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s June 2021 facility announcement to build a sustainable manufacturing plant dedicated to wet pet food.

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