Sioux Falls Smithfield Moving 117 Year Old Plant Out Of Downtown

Smithfield Foods Announces Major Move And Investment in New Sioux Falls Facility.

On Monday, Smithfield Foods revealed plans for a transformative investment in Sioux Falls...a brand-new, state-of-the-art pork processing facility that will replace its current century-old downtown plant.

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The new facility will be built in Foundation Park at the I-29 and I-90 intersection, featuring over 1.1 million square feet of production space with advanced automation and cutting-edge technology.

Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2027, with operations launching by late 2028.

This marks the largest business investment in South Dakota's history and represents a "quadruple win" for the region.

Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken stated, “Today’s announcement marks a historic moment for our city and state. For more than a century, Smithfield has been a cornerstone of our community, and this new, state-of-the-art facility reaffirms their long-term commitment to Sioux Falls and the region, supporting our ag economy and thousands of local jobs for generations to come. This investment by Smithfield unlocks a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redevelop the existing site in downtown Sioux Falls when the time is right.”

The facility will process more hogs than the current 20,000 daily capacity, benefiting local producers across South Dakota and surrounding states.

The 3,200 existing employees will transition to higher-skilled positions in what will be the most modern combined packaged meats and fresh pork facility in the country.

Moving operations out of downtown creates a generational redevelopment opportunity for Sioux Falls, particularly along the eastern riverfront.

The new location offers superior highway and rail access while maintaining Smithfield's deep roots in the community, a partnership spanning more than 100 years.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Sioux Falls, for Smithfield's employees, and the many farmers who supply hogs and grain to our operations," said Shane Smith, President and CEO of Smithfield Foods.