CJ CheilJedang Corp., doing business as CJ Bio America Inc., will celebrate the start of construction on its $320 million lysine production facility on May 14 at 1:30 p.m.

The groundbreaking ceremony will take place at the North Central Ag Industrial Park on Harvest Avenue, south of Iowa Highway 7 in Fort Dodge.

Once completed, the factory will produce more than 100,000 metric tons of amino acids for animal feed additives annually. In October 2011, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) board approved $1.8 million in direct financial assistance as well as tax incentives to the South Korea-based company.

The project represents a $324 million investment by the company, according to the IEDA.