(KLZA)-- Funding from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program — combined with teamwork at the federal, state and local levels — has once again helped a Nebraska employer expand and create quality jobs. 

Great West Pet Food Holding, Inc., dba Falls City Foods LLC, operates two sister companies in Nebraska that store, process and distribute raw ingredients for the pet food industry. Recently, Falls City Foods, in Falls City, was able to access funding in the form of a CDBG loan to support the purchase of new, more powerful freezer equipment. This effectively doubled its capacity to process meat and poultry for sale to national manufacturers, while creating the demand for an additional 10 full-time jobs.

The CDBG loan was administered to Falls City Foods by regional economic developer Southeast Nebraska Development District (SENDD), in collaboration with grant recipient the City of Falls City.

The most direct economic impacts are likely to be felt by the low- to moderate-income (LMI) individuals and families slated to benefit from Falls City Foods’ new full-time job offerings. As part of its loan agreement with 

SENDD, the company will create 10 new positions, primarily benefitting LMI persons.

But the ripple doesn’t stop there. As Falls City Foods repays its required portion of the loan — half, after satisfying LMI job requirements — grant administrator SENDD, a nonprofit economic development organization, will be able to reinvest those funds into other impactful projects in their service area.
Now, with the new equipment up-and-running and the demand for pet food nearing historic levels, Doug Haycock, managing director for Great West Pet Food and both sister companies, says Falls City Foods is growing faster than ever before. CDBG funding, he said — but even more so, Nebraska’s business friendliness and welcoming communities — has played a big role in that success.

Haycock complimented the economic development groups both locally and at the state level that have helped the company pursue this expansion. He said with their support the company has been able to accomplish everything they set out to do and more and are looking forward to what's in store for the future.