 That Altoona plant has 314 employees, and the company says it will meet with the employees, provide additional details about the transition, including severance pay and potential employment opportunities with other Smithfield facilities. Smithfield employs nearly 4,000 people in the state as it has farms and food processing facilities in Carroll, Denison, Des Moines, Mason City, Orange City, Sioux Center, and Sioux City. Spencer Mayor Steve Baumgart says initial estimates indicate 40% of homes in the community have blood damage.