(Radio Iowa) — The company that owns meat processing plants in Council Bluffs, Marshalltown, Ottumwa is making a five MILLION dollar donation for coronavirus response and other initiatives in those three cities. J-B-S U-S-A operates pork plants in Ottumwa and Marshalltown and has two facilities in Council Bluffs that process sliced and cooked meats that are sold in stores. According to a news release from J-B-S U-S-A, the five MILLION dollars will be used to support COVID-19 emergency response and relief efforts, to address food insecurity and to strengthen long-term community infrastructure in the three cities.

J-B-S representatives will work with local officials to identify projects and all funds will be committed by December 31st. J-B-S employs more than 48-hundred people at its four plants in Iowa. According to the company, it pays local pork producers nearly one-point-seven BILLION dollars for hogs that are slaughtered at the plants in Ottuwma and Marshalltown.