Construction is now underway on a new $28.5 million turkey processing facility in West Harrison in Dearborn County, Indiana.
Whitewater Processing, LLC, which owns Kopp’s Turkey Sales, has broken ground on an 85,000-square-foot facility near Interstate 74 in southeastern Indiana not far from the Ohio border.
A family-owned company founded in 1932, Kopp’s Turkey Sales specializes in harvesting turkeys and producing raw cuts of turkey meat. The meat is sold commercially to further processors who cook it into high-quality lunch meat, turkey bacon, sausage and jerky.
The facility is being built on an 86-acre site on Moore Drive at I-74 West Harrison Business Park. The company says it plan to add 130 jobs with an average hourly wage of $27.78.
The company also plans to incorporate a deli and butcher shop on site to serve local families.
Construction of the new facility is expected to be complete by the end of 2026.
Maxwell Construction of Greendale, Indiana has been selected as the design-builder for the project.
“As longtime Indiana residents, we are excited to bring our business home to Dearborn County,” said Ryan Kopp, President of Whitewater Processing LLC and Kopp’s Turkey Sales. “The support we have received from local government for our new facility has been exceptional, and we are deeply grateful for the local collaboration that has made this project possible.”
The company entered into an economic development agreement with the Dearborn County Redevelopment Commission (DCRC) to facilitate the project in March 2025. As part of the agreement, a 10-year phased property tax abatement will help the company offset significant startup costs. DCRC will also make transportation improvements to Moore Drive and its railroad crossing at Harrison-Brookville Road to enhance safety for all motorists in addition to opening other rail-served sites for future job creation.
Based on the company’s job creation plans, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) committed an investment in Whitewater Processing of up to $750,000 in Hoosier Business Investment tax credits. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once investments are made.
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) aided Whitewater Processing in securing an $8.1 million grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program in 2024.
“The expansion of Whitewater Processing, LLC in West Harrison is a significant investment in Indiana’s agricultural economy. The food processing facility supports our farmers, creates local jobs, and strengthens our food supply chain, reinforcing Indiana’s leadership in the poultry industry,” said ISDA Director Don Lamb.
With Indiana ranking in the top five in the U.S. for turkey production, Whitewater Processing will support Dearborn County and southeastern Indiana’s farms and agricultural economy.
The 2023 I-74 Corridor Region Agricultural Strategy — funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce and produced by the Indiana I-74 Business Corridor, Indiana Economic Development Association, and Purdue Center for Regional Development — had identified the need and strategies for diversifying and growing the meat processing capacity in the region.
“These partnerships across our state shows what’s possible when local government, business, and economic development professionals work in coordination,” said DCRC President Jim Deaton. “We’re excited to watch this facility come to life and support the community for decades to come.”
Sources: Dearborn County Redevelopment Commission, Kopp’s Turkey Sales
