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Tyson Foods has announced plans to invest $70 million into the construction of a hatchery in Hope, Arkansas, replacing its existing facility and tripling capacity. The 131,000-square-foot site will contribute to the company’s operational efficiencies at its nearby poultry processing complexes located in Hope and Nashville, Arkansas. Donnie King, president and CEO of Tyson Foods, said: “This investment is another way to demonstrate our long-term commitment to our home state of Arkansas and the Hope and Nashville communities”. The new hatchery will employ members from the existing site and create new job opportunities in the area. The facility will also provide contract opportunities for prospective poultry farmers who have existing chicken housing – or property that can be used to build housing – within a radius of approximately 30 to 50 miles from the Hope hatchery. The news comes after Tyson’s announcement earlier in the month, that it plans to close two chicken plants which currently employ more than 1,700 people in total. The company will shutter a facility in Glen Allen, Virginia, employing 692 and a plant in Van Buren, Arkansas, with 969 employees. The $70 million site is the latest in a number of investments from the company. In February, Tyson acquired Tennessee, US-based pork processor, Williams Sausage Company, for an undisclosed amount. In January, the company reported that it will hire approximately 400 new employees as it expands its prepared foods facility in Caseyville, Illinois. Construction of the facility is expected to take around two years, with completion slated for late 2024.