Meat processing company Cutting Edge Meat Company, or CEMCO, is opening a red meat processing facility in Leakesville, Mississippi. The $1.35 million project is expected to create 14 jobs.

CEMCO is constructing a USDA-approved red meat processing facility in the Greene County Industrial Park. The facility will house fee-based meat processing services for livestock producers and retailers and will also include retail space for specialty meat products. Additionally, CEMCO will sell the processed meats to wholesalers and retail customers. The facility will have the capacity to process approximately 30 beef cattle per week, as well as a similar number of hogs, lambs and goats.

“Over the past few years, we have realized the need for additional red meat processing in our area. We believed that the need created an opportunity for a processing plant in Greene County to support local farmers and job creation for local citizens. We are thankful for the support from the Greene County Board of Supervisors, mayor of Leakesville and aldermen. Their willingness to help us connect with available resources from outside Greene County helped to bring the plant to reality,” said Scott and Michelle Hicks, Owners, CEMCO.

The Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance for an access road and infrastructure improvements. The town of Leakesville and Greene County also are assisting with the project.

“Mississippi is the prime location for companies such as CEMCO, which source their meat from farmers throughout the state, enabling them to successfully get their products to market while providing quality meat products to consumers in Mississippi and the U.S. MDA is proud to offer its support to the CEMCO team as they prepare to open their new operations in Greene County and bring more than a dozen new job opportunities to the area,” MDA Executive Director John Rounsaville said.

CEMCO’s new operations is a result of Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson’s recent request for locally sourced meats. The company expects the Greene County facility to be operational in July.

“CEMCO is meeting a critical need of the state’s agriculture industry, the need for increased processing capacity of livestock. This facility will provide farmers with an additional option for processing livestock and will help alleviate the wait times they experienced due to the pandemic. I am proud that the Mississippi Land, Water and Timber Resources Board was also able to assist in funding a portion of this project, which is a good example of how state programs can work together for the good of its citizens,” Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson noted.