A major economic boost for the Portage la Prairie region was announced yesterday at the Legislature.

European-based food producer Roquette will build a $400,000,000 pea protein extraction facility in the RM of Portage over the next two years. It'll mean 150 permanent jobs once it's complete, and a $9,000,000 annual payroll.

Portage Mayor Irvine Ferris calls it a huge vote of confidence.

"This represents the culmination of work that began almost a year ago. This is the result of a partnership between the RM of Portage, the City of Portage, and, obviously, the province of Manitoba. So this represents a huge economic boost to our local economy.

Reeve Kam Blight says it means an exciting future.

"There are going to be roughly 150+ jobs, once the plant is operational, so that is great for the community. There is going to be lots of agricultural boom going on because of this. There's going to be pea acre requirements -- just more options for the local farmer. It's going to help, obviously, with taxes for the municipalities."

Blight says the process started in 2012.

"Roquette came out for a visit, and they were just feeling things out at that time. And then it was early in the spring of 2016 that PRED was put in contact with Roquette, and started showing these individuals around, and speaking with them again, and brought our councils in. And so, after that, it was a lot of meetings with Roquette, a lot of negotiations, and here we are."

Ferris notes the city's water system played a role in securing Roquette.

"The infrastructure is huge for this project, certainly water, waste water. We will have the capability, the utility's got the capability of doing that. We're one of the few communities that's got that capability because of our large utility."

Ferris adds it means a lot for the local economy.

"There are obviously support services that spring up to support an industry this large. And those are usually a case where small businesses are formed, or existing small businesses are able to expand, add more services. There's a multiplier in our local economy."

Reeve Blight says Roquette was easy to work with.

"They just made you feel like you want them a part of your community. And you look at their history, they have over 8000 employees, in 100 different countries, and I don't know that they've closed down more than one plant. So that is quite exceptional."

Construction could start later this year.