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Local meat processor reports growth, seeks lease of adjacent county property for storefront
Summary
Owners of Blue Ridge Processing told commissioners they are fully booked for 2025, expanding into retail and seeking either a lease or purchase of adjacent county property for a 16x40 roll-off retail building. Commissioners instructed staff to negotiate a lease and return with a draft for board review.
Ashley and Josh Clark, owners of Blue Ridge Processing, updated the Board of Commissioners on March 10 about growth at the former Foothills Pilot plant they purchased from the county in 2023. The USDA‑inspected facility processes beef, pork and lamb for local farmers and — the owners said — had been booked through 2025 and nearly all of 2026.
The Clarks described a transition from a bare building to a functioning USDA plant, noting repairs and equipment investments of roughly $300,000 since purchase and projected additional investments: $75,000–$100,000 for a retail store and about $750,000 for a further-processing building that would produce snack sticks, jerky and other value‑added foods. "We're looking to expand into a retail space so that we can further help the community," Ashley Clark said.
Production and jobs: The owners said the plant processed approximately 70 head of beef, 231 pigs and 81 lambs in its first year, totaling about 170,000 pounds, and predicted those numbers would at least double in the current year. The facility currently employs six full‑time workers and the Clarks said the retail addition and further processing could add eight full‑time jobs.
Lease request for adjacent property: The Clarks asked about renting or leasing a county parcel downhill from the processing building to place a roll-off retail building (roughly 16-by-40 feet). County staff said they were discussing the parcel and asked the owners to coordinate with county management on utilities and site requirements. Commissioner motioned to instruct staff to begin negotiations and return a lease document to the board; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
Why it matters: The facility provides a local USDA‑inspected option for farmers and aims to keep value-added processing local rather than sending product out of state. County officials described the plant as an example of local business redevelopment of surplus county property.
Next steps: Staff were directed to negotiate lease terms with the owners and return a proposed lease for board consideration. The transcript does not record detailed utility or purchase-price conditions; commissioners said staff should confirm water/sewer needs and site specifics before drafting the lease.
