GREAT FALLS – Managing partner for Norsman Consultant Group and Madison Food Park spokesman Todd Hanson has confirmed that Norsman Consulting will no longer be working on the project for the proposed Madison Food Park.
Last year, Friesen Foods, LLC acquired over 3,000 acres of land just about eight miles outside of Great Falls.
The project would include a processing plant for cattle, pigs, chickens and other related further-processing facilities for beef, pork and poultry.
Developers expect the project will bring jobs.
Concerned citizens have a list of issues such as traffic, odor and even job turnover rates.
Hanson has spent the past several months traveling the state and speaking with producers and residents about the Madison Food Park.
But today, MTN has confirmed that Norsman Consultant, and Todd Hanson, will no longer be representing the Madison Food Park.
In a statement, Hanson wrote:
“Although we will no longer be part of this particular development project, we remain committed to the concept of developing and constructing a number of species specific, state-of-the-art, commercial food processing facilities across the State of Montana. We will continue to encourage agricultural producers to explore potential opportunities available to them in the state for processing their market animals locally. We would like to thank the producer groups, farming and ranching families and community members we have had an opportunity to visit with over the past year who, like ourselves, support the principle of building and operating these critical value added agri-business enterprises in the state. It is absolutely necessary that this type of development be undertaken if we are ever going to realize the profitability and security these hard working Montana families deserve. As such, our firm will continue to be active in the pursuit of projects and opportunities where the prospect of these value added facilities being built is supported by the community and economically feasible.”
Reporting by Elizabeth Transue for MTN News
