Cereal maker expanding Albuquerque plant

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - General Mills Inc. plans to feed America's appetite for snacks as it boosts Albuquerque's economy with a plant expansion and dozens of new jobs.

Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez announced the company's project during his annual State of the City address late Tuesday.

He did not identify the new snack General Mills intends to produce here. However he said the 165,000-square-foot expansion of the company's cereal plant at 3501 Paseo del Norte NE will cost $100 million.

That will result in an unknown number of temporary construction jobs and 60 permanent production jobs, Chavez said. The permanent jobs would management and entry-level positions, he added.

"At a time when other cities are shrinking, we're adding jobs," Chavez said. "General Mills has been a great corporate citizen for many, many years.

"Now they know the value of Albuquerque, and I suspect that's why they're investing in Albuquerque."

He called the announcement positive news in a time of economic uncertainty.

Albuquerque won the project out of 70 General Mills facilities in the nation.

Once the city council approves the project hiring could begin by late of next year.