Strauss Brands planning new meatpacking facility in Franklin
Strauss Brands is staying in Franklin with plans to construct a new facility in the city.
Last year, Strauss planned to move to Milwaukee’s Century City Business park, but withdrew the proposal in October 2019 after some neighbors and a Milwaukee Common Council member opposed the project citing pollution, animal cruelty, smell and dangerous jobs.
Franklin residents will have a chance to voice their opinions on this project on Oct. 8 at a public hearing in front of the plan commission, according to City Clerk Sandi Wesolowski.
Strauss Brands LLC currently operates out of a 41,000-square-foot facility in the Franklin Business Park at 9775 S. 60th St.
The company said it has outgrown the space and is looking for a special use permit to construct a new 152,035square-foot, single-story meat processing facility on about 30 acres at the southwest corner of West Loomis Road and the new Monarch Drive.
Plans for the new plant include cattle pens, a harvest floor, carcass coolers, fabrication areas, packaging areas, warehouse areas, shipping docks, operations offices, employee welfare spaces and associated mechanical support facilities, according to a public hearing notice from the city of Franklin.
Strauss estimates the new facility will process between 250 and 500 head of cattle per day.
The new facility will staff 261 employees in the production area and 11 in the office, according to the public hearing notice. At the current facility, Strauss employs about 170 production workers.
Strauss Brands CEO Randy Strauss announced in February the company will remain in Franklin.
“After careful consideration, Strauss Brands has decided to stay in Franklin, our home for more than 50 years,” he said. “We appreciate the ongoing support and patience of Mayor (Steve) Olson, his team and the city of Franklin.”
A contract between Franklin and Strauss states Strauss will develop a meatpacking and distribution facility assessed at a minimum value of $5 million by 2021 and $10 million by 2022 at the location proposed. The contract, originally implemented in May 2019, was adjusted in February.
Franklin’s common council approved a tax incremental financing district in 2018, which would allow the city to help fund the development if the city chose to do so.