Montana Eggs invests US$9m on new facility to meet demand for organic eggs
13 Sep 2017 --- Montana Eggs LLC has celebrated the grand opening of its US$9 million, 58,000 square-foot egg grading facility. The new operation, located in Great Falls, MT, at 1015 38th Street North, will process more than 280 million eggs annually to meet growing demand for organic, free-range eggs, from a supply of 1.2 million chickens. This will be the company's second site in the region.
The Great Falls Montana Development Authority recognized the company's contribution to the region at a grand opening event held on September 11, 2017.
“The demand for Montana-grown free-range eggs is expected to double over the next few years and this facility will help us meet the demand. This space gives us the ability to grade, sort and ship millions of eggs a year,” says Mike Kleinsasser from Montana Eggs. “The demand for organic products is beginning to outpace the supply, and this new facility prepares us to confidently face that challenge.” 
“Montana Eggs' expansion has the potential to draw in more than US$13 million for the state's economy,” says Jolene Schalper, vice president of business development for the Great Falls Montana Development Authority. “Big companies from around the world are starting to realize the potential of our region's strong workforce and the large number of agricultural products we can process.”
The facility is owned by a partnership of 30 Hutterite colonies that make up Montana Eggs. For over 70 years, the colonies have been setting new trends in Montana agriculture, driving the dairy industry and producing 98 percent of Montana's eggs. They are currently working on transitioning to a cage-free nesting system.
“This new facility is not only a milestone for the Hutterites but it's great for the economy and the region of Great Falls. As a Hutterite myself, I can say that we are proud to be part of such a vibrant, growing agriculture and processing community,” says Mike Kleinsasser, secretary-treasurer of Montana Eggs.
The Great Falls region is home to several large agri-processing companies, based both locally and internationally, including Montana Milling, General Mills, Graincraft, and Timeless Seeds. The region has also attracted foreign direct investment, with four Japanese-owned companies including Columbia Grain, Montana Specialty Mills and Helena Chemical, and French-owned MaltEurop.
While the large Montana Eggs expansion marks a victory for agri-processing in the area, the Great Falls Montana Development Authority believes there is more work to be done.
“There is a wealth of opportunity to process more agricultural goods here in Great Falls,” says Brett Doney, president and CEO of the Great Falls Montana Development Authority. “For companies looking to relocate we offer tremendous support including workforce recruitment and training grants, land and equipment grants, access to capital and low-cost utilities and shovel-ready rail-served manufacturing sites.”
A new 197-acre development site called AgriTech Park opened in Great Falls, MT, in 2016, offering customized, shovel-ready, heavy industrial lots with rail access. Each lot ranges in size from seven to 300+ acres. The Park is certified as a BNSF Premier Park, saving six to nine months in start-up operations.
The new Montana Eggs facility will bring 20 new jobs to the region. Eggs are expected to begin shipping from the site in fall 2017.
“As a community bank, First Interstate is dedicated to meeting the financial needs of the people and places we serve. We're proud to work with Montana Eggs to finance this impressive facility, and are excited to be part of a project with such positive economic impact on Great Falls,” says Kyle Herda, Great Falls Market President, First Interstate Bank.
