State, private owner in final stretch on slaughterhouse transfer

PALMER — On Dec. 9, the Alaska Board of Agriculture and Conservation awarded the sale of the Mt. McKinley meat and Sausage Plant in Palmer to bidder Greg Giannulis, owner of Mike’s Meats in Eagle River.

But the deal isn’t sealed yet.

Public comments on the transfer ended Jan. 23, and now, as per the purchase agreement, the state is in what spokeswoman Amanda Swanson called the “due diligence” phase of the transfer.

That’s a 90-day period according to the agreement, but Swanson said it could be wrapped up sooner.

“I don’t have a date yet,” Swanson said. “We’re all hoping to close.”

Giannulis said he won’t be ready to talk publicly about the new slaughterhouse under private ownership until the transfer is complete.

Swanson said that no public comments were submitted to the Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources Division of Agriculture during the open comments period. She said primarily the transitional period includes an inspection of the property and environmental assessment.

The slaughterhouse sold for $300,000, and was set to be closed if the state had been unable to find a suitable buyer.