Food manufacturer Almark Foods is planning to build a 120,000-square-foot, $27.5 million facility on 17 acres in Yuma, slated to open next year.

Groundbreaking for the plant began March 20. Yuma County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director John Courtis said the operation was an economic incentive. City Administrator Greg Wilkinson played a part in convincing the company to come to Yuma, according to the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED).

The Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation (GYEDC) expects the activity will create “a windfall during construction” according to GYEDC President and CEO Julie Engel, with the added benefit of increasing property tax revenue for the municipality.

The construction will generate approximately 200 jobs and, Almark’s arrival will stimulate the community’s economy in general when the plant launches operations with the creation of 100 permanent full-time positions, according to an announcement.

Several contractors are collaborating on the build, including locally based Naquin Precision Earth Moving. General contractor Stellar, although Florida-based, strongly supports locally sourced subcontracting, according to AAED.