COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Tours of the new USDA and California Department of Food and Agriculture certified meat processing facility at the Colusa Industrial Park will be offered through March as construction nears completion and organizers seek continued community input on operations and future expansion.
Colusa Industrial Properties, in partnership with Community Development Services, is offering guided tours of the facility on Feb. 27 and March 30 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The tours provide producers, community leaders and residents an opportunity to view the developing facility and learn about its role in addressing regional meat processing capacity shortages.
The facility, located at Colusa Industrial Properties, is designed to serve cattle, swine, sheep and goats. Phase one of the project is approximately 80 percent complete, with construction expected to conclude in February. The first phase includes a 3,600 square foot slaughter facility and 1,000 square feet of cold storage.
“The demand for this type of facility is real, and it has been growing for years,” said Jacob Kley, project manager with Colusa Industrial Properties. “We have seen older USDA facilities close across the state, and there is a clear bottleneck for small and mid-sized producers trying to access inspected processing.”
Kley said the project expanded beyond its original scope as partners worked to meet regulatory requirements and plan for future demand. The facility will initially operate as a slaughter-only site, with carcasses transported to existing USDA-certified cut and wrap facilities in the region. Value-added processing is planned for a future phase.
Community Development Services is coordinating outreach and engagement for the project, focusing on producers and consumers who have historically faced barriers to accessing meat processing infrastructure.
“The goal is not just to build a facility, but to make sure it serves the people who need it most,” said Andy Lucas of Community Development Services. “That includes small producers and communities that have not always been part of traditional economic development efforts.”
Lucas said the tours allow organizers to gather feedback directly from potential users as construction continues.
“We want to hear from producers about scheduling, species handling and operational needs,” Lucas said. “That feedback helps guide how the facility operates and how it grows.”
The project is supported in part by grant funding through the California Jobs First program and the We Prosper Together collaborative, which represents Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties. The funding supports both facility construction and community engagement.
During a recent tour attended by producers, Yuba-Sutter fair representatives and agricultural professionals, organizers outlined plans for inspections and operations. Initial processing is expected to begin under CDFA inspection, with USDA inspection to follow once federal approvals are finalized.
Kley said the Colusa Industrial Park location played a key role in the project’s feasibility. The site supports agricultural processing uses and holds a state-licensed water discharge permit, allowing wastewater to be managed in compliance with environmental regulations.
“This location gives us the infrastructure we need to operate responsibly and plan for expansion,” Kley said.
Once operational, the facility is expected to employ approximately 14 full-time workers during phase one, with additional jobs anticipated as future phases move forward. Workforce partners, including the Colusa County One-Stop, are involved in training and employment planning.
Organizers emphasized that the facility is designed for efficient processing rather than long-term animal holding, with animals moving through the system within a short timeframe.
Tours are open to interested parties, and advance registration is required. To RSVP, visit https://tinyurl.com/schedule-tour-meat-facility. For more information, contact Colusa Industrial Properties at 530-458-2118 or Community Development Services can be reached at 707-279-1540.