Nearly two years after an explosion rocked the ConAgra Foods plant on Jones Sausage Road, the final Garner-made Slim Jims will roll out Friday, staff writer Sarah Nagem reports.

The company is stopping production as it shifts its meat-snacks operation to a plant in Troy, Ohio. At the Garner plant that has employed thousands of people since it opened more than 40 years ago, and most of the more than 200 remaining workers will be out of a job.

“We’ll start the process of shutting it down and turning it over to the town,” said ConAgra spokesman Dave Jackson. Later this year, the Omaha, Neb.-based company is donating the factory and 106 acres near Interstate 40.

ConAgra is leaving, but Garner officials have big hopes for the site. Two food-manufacturing companies have already toured the plant, and four more have expressed interest, said Tony Beasley, Garner’s economic development director.

The U.S. Commerce Department has awarded Halifax County a $779,203 grant to make infrastructure improvements to the business park where Empire Foods plans to open a manufacturing plant.

Raleigh developer Greg Hatem announced in September that Empire would open a food processing facility in the Halifax Corporate Park.

The company expects to have its new facility operating by June. Empire Foods will be the first tenant at the new, 700-acre Halifax Corporate Park.

The federal grant is being issued through the Economic Development Administration.

Empire is expected to create 200 jobs over the next five years at its facility. The company will receive state and local incentives worth nearly $2 million if it meets hiring goals.

Empire is focusing on selling large packages of fruits and vegetables to hotels, restaurants, school systems, the military and other institutions.