An open house is being hosted by Roquette next week in Portage la Prairie.

The France-based company is poised to build a $400-million pea protein extraction plant in the RM of Portage la Prairie that's expected to create 150 jobs. Representatives from the company will be in Portage next week for the open house to provide product samples and field questions.

"All of the public is welcome to be there and encouraged to be there to see exactly what's involved with this new facility," says RM of Portage la Prairie Reeve Kam Blight, noting engineering consultant firm AECOM is handling a lot of the technical work for Roquette on the project and will also have reps on hand.

Mayor Irvine Ferris says the city will also have representation at the meeting. "We're already fielding a lot of questions on everything from employment to questions from businesses that want to do business (with Roquette)," he says. "This is a chance to communicate."

The open house is Wednesday, Feb. 1, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the multi-purpose room at Stride Place.