Dignitaries dig in

Ken Curley/Register

State and local dignitaries and national and international officials from the Bel Group put shovels to the South Dakota soil Thursday morning, the Big Dig signaling the official start of construction for the Bel Brands USA cheese plant in Brookings. The $160 million plant will be located in the Wiese Business Park north of the Swiftel Center. Expected to be in operation in 2014, it will employ 400. The 170,000-square-foot Mini Babybel manufacturing operation will be located on a 48-acre parcel lying between 32nd and 34th avenues, just east of Interstate 29. As project and plant director Francine Moudry (right) leads onlookers in a round of applause Thursday morning, the “construction crew” begins its spadework. The group includes (from left) SDSU President David Chicoine, Brookings Mayor Tim Reed, Bel Brands USA CEO Lance Chambers, Gov. Dennis Daugaard, Fromageries Bel Vice President of Group Manufacturing Operations Hubert Mayet and Brookings BEDC President Victoria Blatchford. Following the groundbreaking, Bel officials and their state and local partners met at a reception at the McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center.