Nestle Purina plant near Bloomfield to expand

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Stoddard County commissioners approved the closing of part of County Road 535 to pave the way for an expansion at the Nestle Purina Petcare Inc. facility near Bloomfield at their regular meeting Monday.

The Nestle Purina plant is planning a $60 million to $70 million dollar expansion, according to Julian Steiner, executive director of the Industrial Development Authority of Stoddard County.

Commissioner Frank Sifford made the motion to abandon part of County 535, which is on Nestle Purina property south of Route Y. Sifford said part of that road had already been closed and only two landowners are affected. He said both had reached an agreement with the county for an easement to allow them access. Sifford said Nestle Purina, which makes cat litter and other pet-related products, intends to make improvements to the road as part of its expansion.

Steiner said the plant is in an enhanced enterprise zone, and the expansion is the beginning of further projects at the plant, which is "good news" for Stoddard County. He said the expansion would bring additional jobs to the county.

Sifford's motion made the abandonment of the road effective when the landowners sign the easement agreement along with Nestle Purina officials, and it is recorded with the county. He said this would allow Nestle Purina to move forward on the expansion.