Foreign investors are considering Hardin, Mont., for a horse-slaughtering plant, according an economic development official who recently toured a potential site with interested parties.

Jeff McDowell, Two Rivers Authority executive director, said investors with ties to China toured Hardin's shuttered sugar beet plant earlier this month. The tour was arranged by Rep. Ed Butcher, R-Winifred, author of a 2009 state law promoting the building of a horse slaughter facility.

"There were two things in particular they were looking at," McDowell said. "They were considering our somewhat rural location and our relative proximity to an airport that can handle 747s."

McDowell said the visitors were a Chinese-American businessman, his daughter and a college professor friend.

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