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The state of Utah on Thursday approved an incentive of as much as $1.8 million for JBS USA Holdings, which operates a meat packing and processing facility in Hyrum.

The incentive, payable over 10 years in the form of a rebate of corporate income taxes, is based on the company's plans to invest more than $30 million in the development of a new and expanded meat packing and processing facility in Cache County. The offer was approved on Thursday by the Governor's Office of Economic Development Board, which reviews applications for incentive money.

In its application for state money, the company said it plans to add 420 new full-time workers within the next five years at an average pay of $28,500 including benefits. Company officials say about 1,000 people already are employed in Hyrum.

The Hyrum facility was one of six meat-packing plants owned by Swift & Co. that were the subject of a December 2006 immigration raid. JBS USA Holidings Inc., which bought Swift in July 2007, is a wholly owned subsidiary of JBS S.A., which is headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil.

JBS accepted the state's incentive offer after its was approved by the GOED board. "We feel this expansion will help us sustain our presence in the state by improving efficiencies and adding production capacity that will provide a solid foundation for years to come," Jerry Petersen, JBS director of operations in Hyrum said.

JBS processes, packages and delivers beef, pork, lamb and mutton products to customers in more than 60 countries worldwide The company currently has production facilities in 10 states and could have expanded somewhere else other than Hyrum, GOED board members said Thursday. The incentive was approved to ensure the expansion remained in Utah.

The incentive will be paid on a post-performance basis, meaning the company must report to the state each year over the 10-year incentive payment period. If the company doesn't meet the state's criteria in terms of employment and wages, it will not receive all the state money it was promised.