Ponca City Development Authority 102 S. Fifth, Suite 3 Ponca City, OK 74601 580-765-7070

Tyson to Expand in Ponca City! AGREEMENT HELPS TYSON EXPAND WORKFORCE New facility to house worker orientation, training Ponca City, Oklahoma - September 2, 2004      An agreement reached today between Tyson Foods and the Ponca City Development Authority (PCDA) will support the addition of at least 100 jobs at the company's Ponca City plant.      Company officials and PCDA staff have been working for several months on plans to establish a "Team Member Development and Wellness Center" near the Tyson facility in the Airport Industrial Park. The Center will be used for new team member orientation, as well as safety and ergonomics training. It will help Tyson support an expansion of the local workforce and will also enhance the plant's worker retention efforts.      Under the agreement signed by Tyson and unanimously approved today by the PCDA Board of Trustees, the PCDA has committed $150,000 to convert two vacant buildings at the Pioneer Technology Center into the new Center. The facility, which will provide 2,500 square feet of space, is expected to be ready for use this fall.      In return, Tyson has agreed to add and maintain at least 100 jobs through early 2007. The plant has already added the positions over the past few months, bringing total employment to approximately 600 people. The plant has hired the additional workers and installed more production lines to accommodate the transfer of excess business to Ponca City from other Tyson plants, as well as the creation of new business.      Jim Leach, PCDA Trustee, hailed the agreement and praised the company for its decision. "This is a great day for the community and for the people who have secured new jobs with Tyson," he said. "Tyson has been a great corporate citizen of Ponca City and this expansion is truly evidence of that."      "We're thankful for the community's support in our efforts to expand operations," said Dave Corsair, manager of Tyson's Ponca City plant. "This cooperative venture will help ensure the plant continues to be a vibrant part of the local economy."      Once completed, the new Development and Wellness Center will house the Tyson's Training and Safety Departments, as well as Health Services. "We're very excited about the prospect of having a facility of this nature available to us," according to Robert Howard, Tyson Human Resources Manager. "The new Center will give us more space for our team member training and safety programs as well as our Health Services Department."      Tyson's Ponca City plant, which first opened in 1995, produces a variety of deli-style luncheon meats, such as bologna loaf, pickle loaf and salami. The luncheon meats are sold under such brand names as Tyson, Russer, Wilson and Thorn Apple Valley.      The Ponca City Development Authority is funded by a one half cent sales tax authorized by Ponca City voters to provide economic development assistance to new and existing companies in the Ponca City area. Contact: Robert Howard, Tyson - 580-762-6400 David Myers, PCDA - 580-765-7070 Chamber of Commerce | Relocating | Education © www.goponca.com - Ponca City Development Authority - Ponca City, Oklahoma