Mars Inc.-owned pet health and nutrition products maker Royal Canin is investing $185 million to expand the size of its North Sioux City, SD manufacturing facility and add several new production lines to the location.

The South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) recently announced that a $3.9 million Reinvestment Payment Program (RPP) grant was approved by the Board of Economic Development to support the effort.

“Over the past two years, the country experienced a boom in pet ownership and heightened focus on pets’ health. Royal Canin is seeing significant growth as a result,” said Cecile Coutens, president, Royal Canin North America, in a GOED release. “We want to continue to invest in our business to support these pets, their owners, and our professional partners. We already know what an incredible place the North Sioux City community is and are thrilled to expand our presence here.”

149 new full-time jobs will be added to the facility’s current headcount of 380 workers when the project reaches completion.

Royal Canin established the North Sioux City site in 2016. The company launched several expansion projects across its production footprint last year. In March 2021, Mars said it is spending $390 million to erect a new Royal Canin dry pet food plant in Ohio. That same month, the company also revealed plans for a $200 million project to add five new production lines to its Lebanon, TN facility.