JBS to Support Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity with Hometown Strong Funds
In 2020, JBS USA announced a $3.5 million investment in Grand Island, Neb., to support the community’s future through the company’s Hometown Strong program. JBS Grand Island has been working with local leaders and organizations to determine how the funds can best help meet immediate and longer-term community needs.
Today, the company announced it is contributing $200,000 to the Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity to help fund homebuilding for JBS team members. The donation will be used to build two homes and leveraged as JBS team members are accepted into Habitat’s loan program. This is the largest single donation to the organization’s housing program.
There will be a check presentation on Wednesday, March 3 at 10:30 a.m. at the Nelson Lane subdivision (find the location on Google using 2106 Nelson Lane).
“We are proud to partner with a strong organization like the Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity to provide affordable housing in our community,” said Zack Ireland, JBS Grand Island plant manager. “This investment ensures that some of our team members at JBS will benefit from this great program, then their mortgage payments will be reused to build even more homes.”
“We are very grateful to JBS for their belief in our program and the donation which will help build future homes,” said Dana Jelinek, executive director, Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity.
The JBS USA Grand Island beef production facility employs more than 3,600 people with an annual payroll of more than $160 million. The facility supports more than 675 local producers, paying them more than $2.2 billion per year for their livestock. Consistent with its long-term commitment to the local economy, JBS USA Grand Island has invested nearly $70 million in capital improvements over the last five years and is currently in the midst of a $95 million state-of-the-art expansion project at the facility.
JBS USA anchors dozens of rural communities – operating more than 60 meat, poultry and prepared foods plants and employing 62,000-plus people. Funds are being directed to every community JBS USA calls home.
Hometown Strong is a national $50 million initiative that adds to commitments JBS USA has made this year to protect employees and ensure their job security amid the global pandemic. Hometown Strong is one of the largest community investment programs of its kind in the country. Visit hometownstrong.jbssa.com to learn more.