New Potato Plant Breaks Ground in the Burley / Heyburn, Idaho Industrial Park

Burley, ID: A new potato dehydration plant that will bring 50 new jobs to
the area broke ground yesterday at the Burley/Heyburn Industrial Park. City
of Burley Economic Developer Doug Manning said the Oregon Potato Co., which
will do business in Idaho as Gem State Processing, has its headquarters in
Pasco, Washington.

"We've been working with company representatives from Gem State Processing
for several weeks, and we're excited to see the beginning of construction,"
Manning said in a written statement. "The development will help diversify
the local economy and create jobs."

Manning said Tuesday that during a phone interview that most of the
company's new hires will be local residents.

The company plans to begin operations by the second quarter of 2011, said
Bill Schow, general manager for Gem State Processing.

Manning said the company will produce a potato flake that will be used in
other products. The company will be located toward the north end of the
industrial park.

Burley officials along with officials from the city of Heyburn and Minidoka
County and the Boyer Co., which manages the industrial park, have been
actively involved in negotiations in order to get the project off the
ground, Manning said. The project contractor is Max Gabbard Construction of
Yakima, Wash.

"You never know what might happen because of this one," Manning said, adding
that he may have another economic development announcement later this month.

(Originally in the Magic Valley Times-News, 08-11-2010, Written by Laurie
Welch.)