Sanderson Farms' latest plans ruffle feathers in Robeson County
ST. PAULS, N.C. (WTVD) -- Sanderson Farms announced Thursday that it will build a $100 million chicken processing plant in the Robeson County town of St. Pauls. Many residents in that small town of 2,500 are excited at the prospects of jobs, and money.
"We need it down here. Yeah we do," said Robert McKeller.
"I think it's going to be wonderful for us. We need more jobs," said Darlene McQueen.
They are jobs that could have been in Cumberland County. Sanderson Farms was first interested in building a poultry plant in a business park east of Fayetteville. However, county leaders waffled on incentives, and residents in the area let the company know they were not welcome.
Supporters wanted the jobs and money. Opponents argued the plant would foul the air and water.
That's a concern St. Pauls Mayor Gordon "Buddy" Westbrook said he initially had too but is now sold on the company.
"I was sort of concerned myself about a chicken processing plant, but then after I visited one of their operations, they were a real first class company. It was clean, no smell," said Westbrook.
"How many companies do you get with that many employees and the investment they are making In St. Pauls. It's a great thing," he said.
Westbrook said St Pauls, and Robeson County's incentives were not as lucrative as the ones from Cumberland County, but it was good enough.
The proposed site is along N.C. Highway 20 west of St. Pauls. Residents in a neighborhood close to the site say they worry about odor and pollution.
"You can call it apple blossoms, but chicken manure is chicken manure, and it's going to smell like chicken manure," said Richard Davis. "Our main source of water is less than 100 yards from where this is going."
Cumberland County Commission Glenn Adams said he's sorry the county lost the deal but hopes Cumberland County can still reap some benefits.
"I think that it being in St. Pauls, there is still a number of citizens that will go down there and be employed," said Adams.
Sanderson Farms hopes to break ground in June. The plant will eventually employ 1,100 workers.
