HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Things are moving along nicely for a new soy processing facility in Hutchinson.

Kansas Protein Foods, LLC, held a job fair on Tuesday as it seeks to ramp up its workforce. According to President Mike Chisam, phase two of the production plan is moving along ahead of pace. He hopes to hire another 10 workers for a second shift.

More than 40 potential workers showed up for the job fair, which Chisam said was encouraging. As far as production goes, Chisam says they have reacquired about 10 to 15 percent of the customer base that was lost with the closing of the former CHS facility late last year. The company hopes to double that in the next year. He adds that the company has already hit its sales targets almost a fiscal quarter ahead of projections.

The former CHS plant was purchased by Kansas Ethanol in April. The project was fueled in part by an incentive package from the city that will provide funding over five years with $100,000 the first year and $25,000 for each of the following four years. Another $50,000 in incentives came from Reno County.

The incentives require the company to have at least $700,000 in annual payroll.