Whitewater Processing Breaks Ground on $28.5M Facility in Dearborn County

Whitewater Processing, LLC specializes in harvesting turkeys and producing raw cuts of turkey meat.

Photo provided.

(West Harrison, Ind.) - Dearborn County is celebrating a major new investment as Whitewater Processing, LLC began construction today on an approximately 85,000 square foot food processing facility near Interstate 74 in West Harrison.

A family-owned company founded in 1932, Whitewater Processing, LLC specializes in harvesting turkeys and producing raw cuts of turkey meat.  The meat is sold commercially to further processors who cook it into high-quality lunch meat, turkey bacon, sausage and jerky.

The project broke ground August 14 on the 86-acre site on Moore Drive with company executives and local officials in attendance. It represents a $28,475,000 capital investment and the addition of 130 jobs with an average hourly wage of $27.78, well above Dearborn County’s average private sector wage of $23.31 per hour. Additionally, the company plans to incorporate a deli/butcher shop on site to serve area families.

Construction of Whitewater Processing’s facility is expected to be complete by the end of 2026. Maxwell Construction of Greendale, Indiana has been selected as the design-builder for the project.

“As longtime Indiana residents, we are excited to bring our business home to Dearborn County,” said Ryan Kopp, President of Whitewater Processing LLC. “The support we have received from local government for our new facility has been exceptional, and we are deeply grateful for the local collaboration that has made this project possible.”

The company entered into an economic development agreement with the Dearborn County Redevelopment Commission (DCRC) to facilitate the project in March 2025. As part of the agreement, a 10-year phased property tax abatement will help the company offset significant startup costs. DCRC will also make transportation improvements to Moore Drive and its railroad crossing at Harrison-Brookville Road to enhance safety for all motorists in addition to opening other rail-served sites for future job creation.

“This is the type of project that represents everything we’re trying to achieve through our economic development efforts in Dearborn County,” said Dearborn County Board of Commissioners President Jim Thatcher.

Dearborn County Council President Liz Morris added, “This project brings meaningful jobs, long-term investment, and strengthens our infrastructure for future growth. We’re proud to support Whitewater Processing as they put down roots here in West Harrison.”

Based on the company’s job creation plans, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) committed an investment in Whitewater Processing of up to $750,000 in Hoosier Business Investment tax credits. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once investments are made.

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) aided Whitewater Processing in securing an $8.1 million grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program in 2024.

“The expansion of Whitewater Processing, LLC in West Harrison is a significant investment in Indiana’s agricultural economy. The food processing facility supports our farmers, creates local jobs, and strengthens our food supply chain, reinforcing Indiana’s leadership in the poultry industry,” said ISDA Director Don Lamb.

In a state which ranks top five in the U.S. for turkey production, Whitewater Processing will support Dearborn County and southeastern Indiana’s farms and agricultural economy. The 2023 I-74 Corridor Region Agricultural Strategy -- funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce and produced by the Indiana I-74 Business Corridor, Indiana Economic Development Association, and Purdue Center for Regional Development -- had identified the need and strategies for diversifying and growing the meat processing capacity in the region.

“These partnerships across our state shows what’s possible when local government, business, and economic development professionals work in coordination,” said DCRC President Jim Deaton. “We’re excited to watch this facility come to life and support the community for decades to come.”

Whitewater Processing is just the latest project among the growing food production and manufacturing industries in Dearborn County’s I-74 West Harrison Business Park. Whitewater Mill began milling flour at its state-of-the-art facility in 2015, followed by the co-location of Brighton Mills in 2019. In 2022, Dyke Industries opened a 140,000 square foot door manufacturing and distribution facility.

Whitewater Processing’s decision to locate in West Harrison reflects the area’s strong transportation access, available workforce, and valuable natural resources. DCRC welcomes significant investments by other companies seeking to take advantage of shovel-ready sites in the I-74 West Harrison Business Park.