Red Meat Facility: We Talk With Supervisor Elect Charlie Barbuti
The red meat processing facility slated to be built in Liberty has been a topic of discussion lately after a similar operation opened it’s doors in Delaware County. To get a wider prospective on the plant, it’s future, and impact on Liberty we thought it would be ideal hear what our newly elected politicians had to say about it.
Today we heard from Town of Liberty Supervisor-elect Charlie Barbuti. He was kind enough to answer a few questions:
LibertyIndy.com: What is the purpose of the meat processing facility?
Charlie Barbuti: The purpose of the Red Meat Facility to be located in Liberty is to give all farmers in the region a more economical process to get their product to the market. It is the hope of the Sullivan County IDA that the availability of processing facility so close to the farm will encourage our farmers to raise more meat which will create an additional or expanded revenue stream for the farmer. In short while we hope that farmers that already raise meat will take advantage of the new plant and save themselves the expense of going over 100 miles away to process their meat the plant will also encourage them to expand their operations as well as encourage other farms to begin raising meat. Farmers have strongly expressed a need for this facility.
LibertyIndy.com: Does Liberty need it?
Charlie Barbuti: The construction of the facility will create jobs for the short term as well as permanent jobs in operating the plant. Liberty needs more jobs. The many farmers that will travel to this facility will stop at the local gas stations and restaurants. Liberty’s businesses need the extra revenue. Having farmers travel in to town from other areas in the region will expose those folks to the many businesses and services Liberty can offer. Liberty needs more exposure. Do we need this plant? We sure could use the boost.
It seems at this time that almost all the hurdles that have held up this plant have been addressed and it looks like construction should begin in the short term.
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Thanks to Mr Barbuti for taking a few minutes out of his day to answer some questions. In the following weeks we’ll be adding more input from community leaders.
