One step closer... Moline OKs expansion of "enterprise zone" to include hog slaughterhouse

Despite the objections of residents who do not favor plans for a new pork processing plant in East Moline, the $135 million project cleared another hurdle Tuesday night.

The Moline City Council gave preliminary approval for allowing the project to be placed in the Illinois Quad-City Enterprise Zone near Barstow Road and 172nd Street. Although the project would be located in East Moline, the partners in the enterprise zone — the municipalities of Moline, East Moline, Milan, Ill., Silvis, Ill. and the County of Rock Island — need to give the proposal their blessing.

By locating in the enterprise zone, Triumph Foods of St. Joseph, Mo. — the developer of the project — could enjoy incentives, such as waived fees for permits, tax exemptions on construction materials and tax rebates.