The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) last week awarded $45 million to help restart a chicken processing plant in northern Iowa. 

Pure Prairie Farm Inc. was awarded a $38.7 million loan and $7 million grant to support efforts to resume production at the chicken processing plant in Charles City.

“Funds cover construction, renovations to the processing facility, equipment, working capital and fees,” the company said in its application for funding. “The goal (is to bring) hundreds of jobs to the small rural community and increasing poultry processing in the ...