SDWC Speculation on the Gorilla....
I had a reader drop me a note from Sioux Falls today with some of the most recent rumor and conjecture on the "gorilla project" that has all of Southeastern South Dakota in a state of mystery:
Can anyone confirm or deny? Or is this just the latest rumor to add to the pile?
I am not sure if you have heard or don't like to print conjecture, but I have heard from a very reliable source in Sioux Falls that the big secret Gorilla project coming to SE SD / Elk Point area is Smithfield, the owners of Morrell. They plan to announce the closing of their major facilities in Sioux Falls, Sioux City, Kansas City (and another one).That would seem to fit with the speculation that the mysterious project would be a large Ag processing plant.
Anyway, after closing all of these major locations they plan to build a very large facility at the rumored location in the SE which I would think would more than cover the lost jobs from the Sioux Falls location.
Can anyone confirm or deny? Or is this just the latest rumor to add to the pile?
Comments
I knew the papers were using the blogs to find topics to talk about and information to use.
This just seems to confirm all the months of speculation!
I have read more than a sentance or a topic in some of the stae papers. Just putting two and two together.
hummmmmm
I was originally concerned that it would be a large feedlot or processing plant. After talking to some of the neighbors and hearing what price is being offered for land, this idea has lost some ground. There is simply not enough profit in cattle for this much money to be on the table. The rumor that seems to have the most traction right now is an automotive plant.
There are several people who are not interested in selling right now, no matter how much money they are offered. I think a lot of that is due to the high level of secrecy. We continue to hear that it will be good for the area but without any details it is impossible to know. I think this could have been handled better.
It is understandable that people are apprehensive about the unknown. But these companies insist on secrecy when they are looking at their options for expansion, and if we do not honor that, they simply go elsewhere. That would be especially true if this Smithfield rumor turns out to be correct - they clearly would not want it to get out that they were closing three plants until they have in fact made the decision.
My point is - the level of secrecy is for the most part dictated by the company, not the State.
I understand what you are saying and don’t disagree. At no point was I intending to imply that the state was at all responsible for the way this was handled. I’m simply saying that the locals are beyond apprehensive. Several, with large areas of land, have said they absolutely refuse to sell if they don’t know what is going to be built.
In the interest of full disclosure, I have encouraged by parents to take the money and run.
Thank you, Argus Leader, for trying to find out what the Gorilla is !
Actually that is just a fish story I just invented... as far as I know..
Interesting whatever or whoever..
The Sioux City Journal is taking the opposite tone: they're having a contest! Everybody log in to their site with guesses and the closest guessor wins a prize.
Nice to see not everybody in the MSM takes themselves as seriously as the local rag does.
I may be wrong so don't hold me to this, and i don't know why anyone would so i guess i might have to hunt for it.
Did anybody else happen to see this on the net somewhere??????
I heard the company name also but i am not going to mention it just in case i am wrong.
Is that good PR?????
This will be front page Wall Street Journal when announced.