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Smithfield says new plant will be more automated but aims to retain jobs, residents worry about layoffs
Summary
Smithfield representatives told Crooks attendees the automated new plant is expected to shift roles toward higher-skilled, higher-paid positions and to remain an important regional employer; residents pressed how many jobs will remain and how parking/transportation will be handled.
Smithfield representatives told the meeting that because the new plant will use automated, higher‑tech operations the jobs there will be higher skilled and pay better, but they did not provide a precise final headcount for the Crooks site.
"We expect many of the jobs in our facility to be higher skilled positions and therefore higher wages," a Smithfield representative said. When asked about current headcount and future staffing, company representatives said the existing Sioux Falls employment base would be supported and that the new facility aims to be productive and efficient while providing opportunities for local workers.
Residents asked how many parking spaces and shift counts the site will have, and whether automation would reduce the number of local jobs. Smithfield said parking and truck‑study assumptions are part of the site planning and that they anticipate aligning parking with expected demand and promoting carpooling and transit options.
