Ponca City celebrates plans to open a chicken-processing plant

The plant — which will make nuggets and crispy chicken breasts for McDonalds — should reopen in about eight months with 350 workers.

That's a big economic boost for an area that's seen the loss of hundreds of jobs in recent years, said David Myers, executive director of the Ponca City Development Authority.

"It is truly a big shot in the arm," Myers said. "It's very important from an emotional standpoint."

Tyson Foods closed last year, laying off about 580 employees.

At the same time, the community was losing hundreds of ConocoPhillips jobs.