Girl Scout Cookies roll down the production line at the Interbake Foods plant in North Sioux City in an undated file photo. The North Sioux City Interbake Foods plant added 60 jobs last fall and invested $11.4 million in new equipment and technology.
Jim Lee, Sioux City Journal file
Interbake Foods is investing $11.4 million to upgrade equipment at its factory, above, in North Sioux City.
NORTH SIOUX CITY | Interbake Foods is spending $11.4 million to upgrade equipment at its North Sioux City factory, which makes Girl Scout cookies and other baked goods.
The big investment isn't expected to create any new jobs at the plant, which will continue to employ about 500. But 24 workers will get a bump in pay after learning how to run the new machinery.
“Not only will the company be upgrading existing equipment and adding new machinery to retain its competitive edge, but a number of existing employees will also be elevated into higher-paying operator positions to run the new equipment," Gov. Dennis Daugaard said.
The Governor's Office of Economic Development approved an undisclosed Reinvestment Payment for the project. Interbake President Kevin McDonough said the funding was a key factor in the company's decision to make the capital investment in southeast South Dakota.
The updated equipment will allow the company to be more effective and competitive, McDonough said.
Interbake is one of North Sioux City's largest employers.Â
“This is a significant investment for the company, our community and our state," said North Sioux City Economic Development Director Kory Menken.
As part of a 2005 expansion, Interbake, through its ABC Bakery division, shifted all of its Girl Scout cookie production to the North Sioux City plant at 1 Devils Food Drive. More than 100 million boxes of Girl Scout cookies are reportedly made at the plant annually.
ABC Bakers division is one of two companies licensed to produce cookies sold by the Girl Scouts.
Girl Scout Cookies roll down the production line at the Interbake Foods plant in North Sioux City in an undated file photo. The North Sioux City Interbake Foods plant added 60 jobs last fall and invested $11.4 million in new equipment and technology.
