DOUGLAS, GA. — Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. on May 3 broke ground on a $75 million expansion in Douglas, Ga., that will give the company the ability to produce pet food ingredients by processing chicken byproducts.

The expansion is expected to create 53 new jobs at the Douglas complex, where Pilgrim’s Pride already employs more than 800.

Rendering of Pilgrim's Pride facility expansion in GeorgiaSource: Pilgrim's Pride

“I am excited for the continued investment that Pilgrim’s is making in this community,” said Tony Paulk, mayor of Douglas. “With this investment, this makes Pilgrim’s a fully integrated operation — hatchery, growth houses, kill facility, feed mill, and now the pet food ingredient operations. This expansion will create better-paying jobs for our citizens. Better-paying jobs create a better quality of life. This is a great day for our community.”

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