The Mason City Economic Development Corporation is forming a panel to study a proposed 100-million-dollar beef-packing plant. It’s a joint venture between Excel Beef, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and the Iowa Department of Economic Development. Roger Bang is a city councilman and president of the Mason City E-D-C.Bang says the meatpacking industry has a positive history in the Mason City region.Residents in Des Moines, Cambridge and Iowa Falls have already shunned the plant. Mason City E-D-C Executive Director Dan Culhane says they need to determine if there is any community support for the project. Culhane says they need to document the number of people who would be interested in going to work for a beef processing plant in the area. The committee is scheduled to make its recommendations to the E-D-C Board by mid-March.
