Marshaltown, Iowa versus Pekin

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11/6/2010
My review is a question to residents of Marshaltown, Iowa. Recent talk is that Pekin, Illinois is getting a Swift Pork processing plant. The residents are restless and after googleing pork plant in Marshaltown, I found a lot of negative feedback about the economy, crime, illegals, etc since the pork plant came to their city.
We have rather quiet city of 33,000 people supported by many companies, including Caterpillar in Peoria, Illinois. A lot of our inhabitants are retired and move south in the winter months. We have our fair share of poverty compared to neighboring towns, primarily because of the prison. Our Boys & Girls Club is active supporting the kids with activities and sports.
We do not need more crime, drugs and poverty at this point. We want people to move back to Pekin because of the positive things we have to offer.
What is the feeling of those cities that have allowed a pork plant to move to town?
Thank you,
Keith
Keith | Pekin, IL