Nicholas Meat breaks ground on $50 million “sustainable resource facility”

LOGANTON, PA – Dignitaries gathered Wednesday at the sprawling Nicholas Meat LLC facility in Sugar Valley as part of the ground-breaking for what the company is calling “an industry-leading Sustainable Resources Facility.”

The family-owned beef processing facility unveiled plans for the $50 million SRF; it is described as an innovative and comprehensive environmental management system “that will allow the company to reuse water and generate green energy from biogas.”

Brian Miller, the Nicholas director of sustainability, said the concept for the SRF was first discussed six years ago and said it will take another two years to complete. He said the new operation will reduce the Nicholas carbon footprint and decrease its dependence on fossil fuels: “Breaking it down, we will create renewable energy, capture greenhouse gases and odors, reduce water demand and create nutrient-rich fertilizer all while reducing truck traffic and minimizing odor.”

Miller also announced the company is establishing a new conservation area, some 12 acres, in the 100-year floodway of Bald Eagle Creek in Bald Eagle Township. Once completed, he said, the conservation area will be home to almost 2,500 trees and a wide variety of native wetland grasses and wildlife. He called the conservation area development “compensation for the forested riparian buffer and watercourse impacts that will occur as a result of the SRF construction. “Miller noted all the funding for the SRF project is from the company, no grants or government money. He said the Wednesday ground-breaking “helps Nicholas Meat set the standard for sustainability throughout the meat processing industry and demonstrates our dedication to a ‘Sustainable’ Sugar Valley.”

Doug Nicholas, company Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, offered his thanks for all those who helped bring the project to its pre-construction status. Several speakers noted the Nicholas family and its roots in Sugar Valley which go back 200 years. Mike Flanagan, President and CEO of the Clinton County Economic Partnership, cited the meat company’s 30 year history, dating to his earliest work at the CCEP. Flanagan noted a devastating early fire at the Nicholas operation and when he offered assistance to Doug Nicholas’s father, Gene, the elder Nicholas pledged, “We’ll be back.” Today the company employs more than 350 at the plant and another 150 contract workers.

Program speakers included US Congressman Fred Keller (R-12) and Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. Keller complimented the Nicholas family for its effort in agriculture, stating, “They’re doing the right thing for the environment, the community and their company.”

Agriculture Secretary Redding talked of the “critical role agriculture plays in building a strong economy and strong rural communities in our state.” He said, “Today’s groundbreaking of the Sustainable Resource Facility is a significant step toward ensuring our food supply is sustainable. The Nicholas Meat SRF is bringing world-class technology to Pennsylvania that will serve as a model throughout the meat processing industry.”