Oklahoma Tribes Will Open Meat Plants
The Cherokee, Osage and Creek nations are planning to open separate meat processing plants in Oklahoma in early 2021.
The Tulsa World reports the Cherokee Nation will repurpose a former horticultural nursery to create a 12,000-square-foot facility on Nation property west of Tahlequah, and the Osage Nation has already begun construction of a 25-000-square-foot plant in Hominy, OK.
The Cherokee facility has an estimated $1 million cost, and when finished will process beef, pork and bison. The plant would employ up to seven people and is scheduled to be finished in early 2021.
The Osage Nation plant has an estimated $8 million cost and is expected to employ 30 people and be operational by Jan. 1, 2021. The Osage News reported the tribe owns 3,000 head of cattle.
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation broke ground in early October on a $10 million facility in Glenpool, a city on the south side of Tulsa. Named the Loop Square Meat Company after the tribe’s brand for its cattle and ranch, the facility will offer meat processing and retail meats to the general public. The facility is expected to employ 25 people and be operational in early 2021.
All the projects are utilizing some Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds.
