Tyson poultry plant
Tyson’s Robards, Ky. plant produces chicken under the Tyson brand.

ROBARDS, KY. — Tyson Foods Inc. is initiating a $13.5 million expansion plan at its Robards, Ky., poultry plant. The capital improvement project will allow the company to upgrade its product mix to meet growing consumer demand, Tyson said.

The facility improvements, expected to be complete by January 2017, include new freezer equipment, two new production lines and new processes and technology designed to benefit food safety, quality and workplace safety, Tyson said. The expansion is expected to create 66 new jobs.

To assist Tyson with the expansion, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) is providing tax incentives through the Kentucky Business Investment program, Tyson said. The state also will help with new and existing employee training programs through the Kentucky Skills Network program to assist Tyson in building and maintaining its workforce.

“This is an investment in our plant and in our people,” said Noel White, president of poultry for Tyson Foods. “We appreciate doing business in Kentucky and thank the KEDFA for all it has done to make this project possible.”

Tyson’s Robards plant produces chicken under the Tyson brand for sale to retail customers. The plant currently employs about 1,200 people.