Tyson Foods is launching a $50 million program to cover down payments for homes for its employees, including those in Nebraska.

The world's largest meat producer has 120,000 employees in the U.S. and abroad. Workers who have been with the company two years or more and have an annual household income of less than $54,500 are eligible. Participating workers will get an average of $3,000.

Those who use the program will be forgiven the down payment if they stay with Tyson for five years. If they leave earlier, they'll have to repay Tyson upon the sale of the home.

CEO John Tyson says the program helps build roots in the communities where the company has plants and allows it to retain workers.