Smithfield Sioux Falls Move: History & Downtown Impact

Smithfield Foods Announces $1.3 Billion Investment, Relocation in Sioux Falls

February 16, 2026 – Smithfield Foods announced a significant $1.3 billion investment in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Monday, signaling a major shift for the company and a potentially transformative development for the city. The investment will fund a new, state-of-the-art facility in the northwest Sioux Falls’ Foundation Park, located at the intersection of I-29 and I-90.

The move will open up Smithfield’s current land, adjacent to Falls Park, for development into a new district for the city of Sioux Falls. State and local leaders hailed the announcement as a “defining moment” in South Dakota history.

Shane Smith, President and CEO of Smithfield Foods, described the new facility as “the most modern of its kind in the U.S., featuring advanced automation technology and IT systems.” He stated the facility will be the largest combined packaged meats and fresh pork processing facility within Smithfield’s network, encompassing more than 1.1 million square feet of production space. The new plant is expected to deliver efficiency gains to Smithfield’s fresh pork and packaged meats operations.

The state of South Dakota is contributing $12 million to the project. According to the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), $6 million will be used to secure land in Foundation Park, and an additional $6 million will come from the Future Fund to support infrastructure development, preparing the site for construction.

Construction is anticipated to begin in the first half of next year, with an estimated operational date at the end of 2028. Importantly, the new facility is expected to employ approximately 3,200 people – the same number currently employed at the existing Sioux Falls plant.

The announcement comes after a long history of Smithfield’s presence in Sioux Falls. The company’s facility has been a fixture next to Falls Park for many years, and its relocation represents a “once-in-a-generation” move, according to officials. The impact of this move is expected to be felt nationwide.

The South Dakota Development Foundation described the investment as the largest gift in city history. The new facility will also increase Smithfield’s daily hog-processing capabilities, though specific figures were not immediately available.

The move to Foundation Park is intended to position Smithfield for future growth and innovation in the pork processing industry. The advanced technology and increased capacity of the new facility are expected to enhance the company’s competitiveness and ability to meet evolving consumer demands.