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Durocky Road, DuPont
Durocky Road, LLC will construct and maintain a 150,000 sf. logistics/distribution facility to support DuPont Crop Protection manufacturing operations on Rocky Ford Road in Valdosta, GA. The facility will be built-to-suit DuPont Crop Protection supply chain logistics/distribution requirements in compliance with Valdosta-Lowndes County building code requirements and Westside Business Park Restrictive Covenants. Site preparation is scheduled to begin in mid-December 2011 with completion of construction projected in June 2012.
"Durocky Road, LLC will make a projected capital investment of $4.8 million in the project and create approximately 125 construction trades jobs during the seven (7) month construction phase. Durocky has committed to use local professional services, contractors, sub-contractors and suppliers to the maximum extent possible during construction of the facility. Durocky has also agreed to design and use construction material that meet US Green Building Council LEED certification criteria and seek LEED certification for the facility. The facility is projected to generate approximately $250,000 in local property tax revenue during the initial ten (10) year period of operation", said Allan Ricketts, Project/Existing Industry Manager, Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority.
"We are very pleased to partner with DuPont, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority and Southwest Georgia Bank to help facilitate the creation of jobs for citizens of Valdosta-Lowndes County. In particular, I would like to gratefully acknowledge the diligent and professional work of Mr. Allan Ricketts of the Authority along with Mr. Charles Terry and Ms. Lois Smith of DuPont and Mr. Justin Scott of Coleman, Talley, LLP throughout the project development process", said Doug Griffin, President, Durocky Road, LLC.
Ivan Caldwell, plant manager-DuPont Crop Protection, said "We're excited about Durocky Road LLC's and the Industrial Authority's plans to add facilities in support of our manufacturing operations in the Valdosta area. Constructing this new warehouse will support the future growth of our DuPont distribution business in the area and any future growth of our manufacturing operations."
Southwest Georgia Bank is providing financing for the project. Jud Moritz, Senior Vice President, said "Southwest Georgia Bank is proud to be the financial partner for this exciting project. It is important for our local economy to facilitate the expansion of our existing industries and to use local vendors while doing so. We are pleased that our bank will provide the financing to make this expansion possible and we are thankful to DuPont and Durocky Road for their continued investment in our community".
"This is an excellent example of what the Industrial Authority does to assist existing industries. We work together with key partners in the community to assist existing industries to increase the company's bottom line, grow jobs and increase the tax base", said Andrea Schruijer, Executive Director, Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority.
The Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority will host a Ground Breaking on Wednesday, 21 December, at 2:00 PM
Contact Information
Lu Williams, Operations Manager
(229) 259-9972
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Southeastern Die Reconditioning
Southeastern Die Reconditioning, Inc. has established their corporate headquarters and relocated manufacturing operations to the Hahira Business Park. The company refurbishes pellet mill dies and rolls for biofuel and feed mill manufacturing plants located in the United States and Canada.
"Southeastern Die Reconditioning will make a projected capital investment of $735,000 to acquire, refurbish and expand an existing building located in the Hahira Business Park. The location of the company headquarters and expanded manufacturing operations will create 36 jobs in Hahira-Lowndes County over the next 48 months. Southeastern Die also plans to expand the logistics/distribution services they provide to customers in the United States and Canada. This planned expansion has the potential to bring additional capital investment and job creation to Lowndes County", said Allan Ricketts, Project/Existing Industry Manager, Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority.
"Southeastern Die Reconditioning is pleased to be located in Hahira and Lowndes County, Georgia. We expect to have a positive economic impact in North Lowndes County. We have been in business for 3 ½ years. We relocated to this area because of the potential of growth of the pellet mill plants in this area, such as Georgia Biomass in Waycross, GA and Appling County Pellets in Baxley, GA. There are several other wood pellet plants that will be located in this region over the next few years. The potential for growth in this region is phenomenal. What makes this area so attractive to producers is the large amount of wood fiber and accessibility of ports in Brunswick and Savannah, Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida", said Bobby Dumas, President, Southeastern Die Refurbishing, Inc.
"In these challenging financial times, we take great pleasure in announcing that the authority has championed the growth of an existing industry", said Roy Copeland, Chairman of the Board, Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority.
The Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority will host a Welcome to the Hahira Business Park on Monday, 19 December 2011 at 2:00 PM.
Contact Information
Lu Williams, Operations Manager
(229) 259-9972
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October 18, 2011
David Rodock The Valdosta Daily Times
In partnership with Georgia Power, Janus Economics recently completed its comprehensive community assessment of Lowndes County. Much of the data focuses on economic development and provides solutions to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority on ways it can improve its public image and relationship with local governments.
During a two-day visit to Lowndes County, two consultants from Janus toured the area and conducted confidential interviews and focus groups with elected officials, business owners, city/county employees and other stakeholders.
Certain statistics provide a sobering look at future growth for the county. According to the report, approximately 25 percent of students will not graduate high school. The report recommends that soft-skills training and continuing support of the Five Start Program will be important to increase graduation rates. Technical job training should also be emphasized to help graduate students who are not on the university track.
Some of the statistics may appear more obvious to members of the community, like the lack of high-paying jobs to retain the Valdosta State University graduate population.
"This was like an airplane view of Valdosta and Lowndes County," said Andrea Schruijer, Industrial Authority executive director. "People knew these things. I don't think there were any surprises in there. We've already got some of the people making good efforts, like with the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce and their S.O.R.T. (Special Ombudsman Response Team) committee."
Much of the presentation focused on public relations between the Industrial Authority and the community. During the biomass project, the Authority closed off social media outlets and there is not a strategy in place for how those avenues should be used.
It is suggested that the Industrial Authority develop an internal communications strategy and create a relationship with local media outlets to provide more coverage for economic development.
Many of the interviewees said the fallout from the biomass project left some citizens with a negative image of economic development and the Industrial Authority, according to the presentation.
Authority personnel are encouraged to celebrate all accomplishments, both large and small.
Most interviewees believed that Lowndes County was a great community with proper amenities and potential for future growth. As a result of the rift caused by the biomass project, it will be important for the community to "create fresh partnerships, build and implement a strong vision for economic development and create an honest, transparent environment where everyone participates in creating jobs and improving the quality of life."
Another area that needs work is the relationship between city and county governments and organizations focused on economic development.
"We're trying to work through some of the city and county zoning conflicts," said Schruijer. "These are things that we already recognized so now we've got to find out how we're going to address those things. We did just get the assessment last week."
Total employment is currently at 62,502, which is a 5.7 percent decrease from peak employment in 2008 with 66,255 jobs. According to the report, the "Great Recession" really did not impact steep job losses until 2009, a year later than most other parts of the country.
Wages for jobs are still below the state and national averages. The median hourly earnings for Lowndes County is $13.96, compared with $16.78 for the state and $17.57 for the nation.
Job growth for accommodation and food services is at 39 percent, health care and social assistance has grown 35 percent. Other areas like real estate, government, waste management & redemption services, retail trade, arts, entertainment, recreation, information and educational services have also seen significant increases in job growth in the last eight years.
Although 7,808 people commute into Lowndes County from other counties for work, almost as many, 6,681 leave the county for work. While regional job growth has only grown by 1 percent, or 639 jobs, job growth for Lowndes County has jumped by 5,000 jobs since 2002.
Job growth will continue to be negatively impacted if the community is seen as unfriendly towards businesses.
Strengths to build on include VSU and Moody Air Force Base, which are the two largest employers, along with South Georgia Medical Center which serves as the medical hub for much of South Georgia. The expected expansion of the medical college in conjunction with SGMC will bring further strength to the area.
Downtown Valdosta was also highlighted by the assessment firm as an area that should see continued growth.
Many interviewees also stated that Wiregrass Georgia Technical College has improved significantly in the last five years and has the ability to develop and implement a course within six months of identifying a workforce training need. Location will also provide further growth given Lowndes' position on Interstate 75 and relative proximity to I-10.
Most interviewees believed that the standard of living was high in Lowndes County and activities like golf, amusement parks, outdoor recreation, theatre, art centers and VSU provide a number of entertainment outlets for citizens. The assessment recommends increases in tourism for the area, to increase over-night stays from regional visitors.
"We are the marketing arm for Valdosta-Lowndes County," said Schruijer. "We've got to make sure that we're exceeding those expectations. One of those things will be developing a strategic-planning process and visioning process so we do know where we are all going and that we all agree on what the vision should be for our community's economic development."
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July 14, 2011
David Rodock The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA - Following an almost three-month search, Andrea Schruijer officially started working last week at the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority as its new executive director. A native of Cordele, Schruijer had been employed for the last several years as the senior vice president of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission, where she concentrated on economic development.
Her background includes marketing with the Ritz-Carlton hotel franchise prior to being involved with industry development. Schruijer said she strives to bring a positive and friendly approach to attracting businesses to a community, while at the same time, maintaining existing industry relationships.
"It's important to always have a positive attitude," said Schruijer. "We've all got warts and issues, but we must understand that focusing on our positives is what is going to move us forward. A lot of times, people from a corporate background tend to forget to focus on the positives. You definitely need to work on things and have them in your mind but not let them disrupt progress."
After spending her first few days learning about the area and taking care of paperwork, Schruijer was eager to start working and meeting with members of the community. She has highlighted a few key areas of growth and focus.
With the City of Valdosta a primary logistics point for all four major compass directions, she said distribution will be a major growth factor for the area, regardless of the recent economic downturn.
Also, she noted that Moody Air Force Base, Valdosta State University and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College will play an important role in future growth in the area, but she further stressed the necessity of maintaining an educated and skilled workforce in the area. On her list of things to do is speak with Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce President Myrna Ballard and staff members about implementing new programs to attract knowledge-based jobs and retain a high-quality workforce pool.
"We need to make sure that we're looking for defense and logistics, along with the Department of Defense, to make sure we're capturing those resources," said Schruijer.
Other areas of importance that Schruijer has recognized in the Lowndes County region are the manufacturing and agricultural industries.
"We have a great base of advanced manufacturers already here," said Schruijer. "We have several smaller manufacturers but must look to bring a wider variety of different types. Also, we must recognize who we are as a food-producing region and how we can tie all of these things together. I think it's important to realize that, as an economic director, we are creating the environment to foster growth, to make sure we have all those things in place to foster growth."
As for actual Industrial Authority operations, there are a couple improvements she believes can be made to the organization.
Among these is streamlining the website to allow prospective industries and partners to easily navigate available resources and opportunities in the area.
She also hopes to improve the transparency of operations for citizens but insists that some limitations will have to be in place to protect the interests of potential investments.
"It's important for us to be transparent in the eyes of the community and for them to understand what we're doing to push economic development," said Schruijer. "It's twofold, however. People are looking at us all the time. If a company or a competitor is able to see meeting minutes online, then that could be a red flag in that the business confidentiality is at risk. We want to make sure the information is readily available, but we also want to be cognizant of our customers and their confidential materials."
When it comes to the proposed biomass facility and maintaining a healthy relationship with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, which assisted the Industrial Authority in attracting the project, Schruijer believes staff and board members will be able to work through the situation.
"With economic development, it can be difficult to juggle a lot of different items," said Schruijer. "It's a balancing act to make sure you have all the parties involved and educated on the situation. The Department of Economic Development was there to help us recruit the project and they did just what they were supposed to do. In fact, they went above and beyond their duties by brushing over this project with a fine tooth comb. We worked with them and they worked with us. It seemed like a good project, and I think we'll be able to work through this, maintain a good relationship with them as long as we keep the avenues for communication open."
Schruijer reflects on a number of economic achievements during her employment in Albany, including an expansion of the MillerCoors Brewing Company and capital investments with Procter & Gamble that allowed for smooth transitions for both companies into further growth opportunities.
"We needed to improve our financial toolbox, which could include developmental grants, state grants and tax incentives or a revolving loan fund," said Schruijer. "In the City of Albany, we were able to utilize these financial options to utilize them with our existing industries."
She sees another important aspect of industrial growth as not avoiding problems with existing or potential industries but using a positive attitude to work with them to rectify a situation and keep the jobs and economic contributions in an area.
Even though Schruijer has only been in the area for a little more than a week, she feels confident and knowledgeable about the issues and possibilities for the area. Her family is getting acquainted to the new community. She expects they will settle in fine, since her family in Cordele is still close at hand.
"It's been a great community and the people have been extremely nice and welcoming," said Schruijer. "We haven't had that much time to get out and about, but my kids did get the opportunity to go to Jungle Jym's and they loved it. They were very excited and that's made my kids feel a little better about the move."
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February 22, 2011
Biomass protesters turn out
David Rodock The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA - The Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wiregrass Solar LLC project Monday afternoon.
Executives from Georgia Power, Sterling Planet, Hannah Solar LLC, as well as Mayor John J. Fretti and industrial authority staff were present to commemorate the event.
More than a dozen members of the community representing Wiregrass Activists for Clean Energy (WACE), Valdosta State University's Students Against Violating the Environment (SAVE) and the local chapter of the NAACP were also present to protest against the construction of the biomass facility but also to support the solar facility being created.
"It's not cost-effective. We're spending millions of taxpayer dollars in government subsidies for biomass, and you have a very iffy return on the investment," said Leigh Touchton, president of Lowndes-Valdosta NAACP.
"My gratitude is to all the partners for getting together and seeing this project through. Everyone realizes that solar is an important component of our electric needs, and it will continue to be. We need to take into consideration that all renewable energy resources - solar, wind and bio - have a place and will hopefully be more efficient and come at a lower rate for our customers. We are very proud to have the largest solar array in the state," said Fretti.
"It's been a privilege to work on a project like this. We're proud of our product, and we're proud of solar energy. I hope this site will attract other renewable energies and other technologies that are efficient for the electric industry as a whole. It takes all of the environmental to make this space work. We are re-investing our property into projects like this. We make our money buying and selling into renewable energy across the country. All of the technologies hold a significant place in renewable energy manufacturing," said Sterling Planet Chairman Sonny Murphy.
Executives and city officials broke ground together at the site to the mixed cheers from the crowd of protesters: "Hooray for solar! No biomass!"
The solar panel photovoltaic facility has been designed to generate approximately 350,000 kilowatt hours of renewable energy per year and will be purchased by Georgia Power at 17 cents per kilowatt hour.
"Solar energy is definitely part of the solution for water issues in Georgia, and it's not being talked about. When the president of Georgia Power is the chairman of the water commission and 52 percent of water is being used for power generation, you've got the fox in the henhouse," said Pete Marte, chief executive officer of Hannah Solar.
The facility will be constructed on a two-acre tract near the future site of the biomass power facility. The solar facility will be paid for in part by a $500,000 grant from the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority.
According to Brad Lofton, executive director of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority, the solar array will provide enough power for approximately 160 homes. The average home uses about 12,000 kilowatt hours of power each year.
"This solar announcement really puts Valdosta in the forefront of being a renewable energy leader in Georgia. We're becoming a green energy leader in the state," said Lofton. "What I think is interesting is how great of an example (this is) of a public private partnership. The entire quadrant is going to be renewable projects with two different types of clean and green energy manufacturing."
According to Lofton, the proposed biomass facility construction is still on track. The industrial authority is expecting a groundbreaking ceremony sometime in late spring or early summer once it has finalized the fuel supplier and power purchaser agreement. The facility will produce enough power for 18,000 homes.
"It's proven technology. We've been using this technology for years and years. Our goal is to expand the solar array and recruit more renewable energy in the area. It really underscores our location as a leader in green energy in the state," said Lofton.
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July 22, 2010
Council votes to sublease property to Industrial Authority
Kara Ramos The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA - The Valdosta City Council voted to sublease property to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority for future development of a solar facility at a meeting Thursday.
“We’re very excited about that (the project)," Allan Ricketts, VLCIA project manager, said. “It’s establishing our community, Valdosta and Lowndes County, as a leader of the state in renewable sustainable energy projects."
The City will lease the land to the Industrial Authority, who will sub-lease to Sterling Energy Assets, Inc. The project will then be constructed by Hannah Solar.
However, construction of the project is on hold until Sterling Energy Assets, Inc. receives approval from the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) loan/grant funding, Ricketts said.
“We’re not announcing the project," he said. “We’re getting everything in line so that when we get that final review and approval, or that funding for the project, then we will be able to move forward quickly."
The solar photovoltaic facility is proposed for two acres of land, located adjacent to the Mud Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and the site for the Wiregrass Power LLC Biomass Electric Generating Plant.
The solar project “will generate about 355 kilowatts of renewable sustainable electricity for sale to Georgia utilities," Ricketts said.
The project will cost $1.7 million, $500,000 of which has been awarded by the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) grant.
The grant will be used for construction and equipment and “the rest of the money will come from the company (Sterling Energy Assets, Inc.)," Ricketts said.
Once the grant is received, the project’s site preparation is planned to begin early Aug. and will take about 60 days to complete.
While no contracts have been signed, Georgia Power, Green EMC and Electric Cities of Georgia are interested in the project, he said.
“This will also be the largest solar project in history in the state of Georgia," Larry Hanson, city manager, said.
Council members also approved the request for funding of the rehabilitation of a downtown building, located at 213 and 215 N. Ashley Street.
The 7,000 square foot building will be converted into one floor of office space and one floor for four residential units.
The project’s cost is $588,000, with an interest rate of three percent.
A local lender will pay $294,100, the loan fund will pay for $235,280, and the building owners will pay for $58,820 of the cost.
The building also has contracted a five year lease with Sentinel Probation, which plans to add five more positions for a total of 14 employees.
“That’s good stuff," Mayor John Fretti said. “It’s something that we need and I commend those who step up in this economy."
Also at the meeting, in celebration of the City of Valdosta’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, Fretti was presented with a crystal 150th birthday Coca Cola bottle from Lesley Stephens and John Browning, Coca Cola representatives.
“(We wanted to) thank everyone here, thank the mayor, thank the council," Stephens said, "for your service and for what you do (for the community)."
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June 23, 2010
Dawn Castro The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA - Two of the Valdosta Police Department's new police cruisers, brand new Ford Mustangs, were given free upgrades, compliments of Steeda Autosports.
Steeda, the foremost manufacturer of after market products for Ford Mustangs, recently relocated to Valdosta and performed the upgrades to showcase one of the company's newest concentrations, which is working with police departments.
The modifications to the Mustangs included improved safety features, improved braking systems, and increased gas mileage, with the cars getting an average of 35 miles per gallon, according to Valdosta City Manager Larry Hanson.
"We are trying this out. We are going to evaluate the performance of the vehicles and see if the modifications really do make a difference," he said.
Hanson said the city purchases 20 new police cars each year to replace old and worn out vehicles. This year, the city purchased two Mustangs and 18 Crown Victorias, six of which will also undergo the Steeda modifications.
"Ford is phasing out the Crown Vics, which are a staple for law enforcement. The Mustangs are being tested to see if they meet our needs," Hanson said.
Valdosta Police Chief Frank Simons said the cars will not cost the department but are expected to save up to $30,000 over a span of five or six years.
"We are not spending any more money," Simons said. "People are looking for there to be a catch at the end, but there is no catch. With all the upgrades these cars have, the department is looking at a big savings in maintenance alone. The safety of our guys and the citizens will be much better ... and, as we all know, you can't put a price on safety."
Simons added that the cars will only be used in the city's jurisdiction.
Dario Orlando, president of Steeda, said the company was happy to do this for the VPD.
"Our goal is safety first, saving money and productivity," Orlando said.
As the company is looking to roll its police car program out in other communities, Mayor John Fretti stated, "We predict this will go national, then we can proudly say they're made in Valdosta."
Two of the community's residents said they altered their plans for the day in order to attend the unveiling.
"When I saw the announcement in the paper, I knew I had to come out here first," Larry Kolb said. "There are so many things about these cars that are better than the stock Mustangs. My wife and I are both seniors and we both own convertible Mustangs. When I bought mine 25 years ago, Steeda wasn't around; it was just a gleam in someone's eye."
David Boyd also said he altered his day of relaxing to come see the new addition to the police department. He said what he really likes is that it's all done here in Valdosta.
"I think it's a great thing for our community," Boyd said. "I would really like to ride around in it."
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June 23, 2010
Six Georgia Counties Reach Certified Work Ready Community Status
ATLANTA - Governor Sonny Perdue today announced six new Certified Work Ready Communities, a designation showing the county has the skilled workforce that business demands and the educational infrastructure to drive economic growth and prosperity.
"Becoming a Certified Work Ready Community can be a significant and important factor in driving economic growth," said Governor Perdue. "Delivering a skilled workforce that can hit the ground running can make the difference in a company choosing to locate in a community."
The five new Certified Work Ready Communities of Excellence are Floyd, Hancock, Lowndes, Mitchell and Walker counties; and Elbert County has been named a Certified Work Ready Community. These counties represent the seventh group to complete their Work Ready Certificate goals and have both successfully met at least the required minimum increase in their county's public high school graduation rate.
The new Certified Work Ready Communities achieved the following:
- Elbert County: 939 Work Ready Certificates earned (183 percent above goal); increased high school graduation rate from 61.8 percent to 68.2 percent
- Floyd County: 3,274 Work Ready Certificates earned (233 percent above goal); increased high school graduation rate from 71.4 percent to 76.6 percent
- Hancock County: 209 Work Ready Certificates earned (41 percent above goal); increased high school graduation rate from 78 percent to 87.5 percent
- Lowndes County: 1,235 Work Ready Certificates earned (26 percent above goal); increased high school graduation rate from 66.3 percent to 76.9 percent
- Mitchell County: 408 Work Ready Certificates earned (95 percent above goal); increased high school graduation rate from 60.1 percent to 73.8 percent
- Walker County: 1,518 Work Ready Certificates earned (103 percent above goal); increased high school graduation rate from 63.1 percent to 70.4 percent
To earn the Certified Work Ready Community designation, counties must demonstrate a commitment to improving public high school graduation rates through a measurable increase, and show a specified percentage of the available and current workforce have obtained Work Ready Certificates.
Each community created a team of economic development, government and education partners to meet the certification criteria. Counties are given three years to reach the goals necessary to earn the designation.
Five additional counties Glascock, Taylor, Warren, Washington and Wheeler have met their Work Ready Certificate goals and continue to work to improve high school graduation rates.
To date, 28 counties have earned the Certified Work Ready Community designation and 112 others are working toward their individual goals.
Once counties attain their Certified Work Ready Community goals, they are able to maintain their status by ensuring a small percent of their available workforce continue to earn Work Ready Certificates, engage local businesses to recognize and use Work Ready, and continue to increase their public high school graduation rate until they reach a threshold of 75 percent. Once they reach 75 percent, they must sustain that graduation rate to maintain their certification status.
To continue their work, each county will receive a $10,000 grant. Their Work Ready Community teams will also receive a two-year membership to their local chamber of commerce and a budget for additional Work Ready outreach materials. Counties that are fully certified receive road signs and a seal denoting the year they achieved certification.
Georgia's Work Ready initiative is based on a skills assessment and certification for job seekers and a job profiling system for businesses. By identifying both the needs of business and the available skills of Georgia's workforce, the state can more effectively generate the right talent for the right jobs. The Certified Work Ready Community initiative builds on the assessments and job profiling system to create opportunities for greater economic development.
For more information on the Work Ready initiative please visit the Web site at www.gaworkready.org.
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Preparing For Growth in a Recovering Economy
Over the past two years, the Valdosta Lowndes County Industrial Authority has been preparing for the growth that comes with a recovering economy. These preparations include purchasing land, infrastructure upgrades, a revised New and Existing Industry Incentive Policy and the community's new Workforce Ready Certification. The most important of these preparations is the purchase of land. Without available authority owned site ready tracts of land, the recruitment of new industries and assistance of existing industry growth would be much slower. With the community's fast permitting process and a substantial inventory of land, a company can begin the construction process within thirty days of closing (less in some cases).
Added to the Authority's existing inventory of 202 (two hundred and two) available acres within the six industrial parks is a recently purchased 430 (four hundred and thirty) acre tract of land just south of Valdosta on Hwy 41 and a 156 (one hundred and fifty six) acre extension of the Azalea West Business Park located west of downtown Valdosta less than two miles from I-75. The new park on Hwy. 41 will be a premier mixed industrial use business park. The Azalea West Extension is a shovel ready site, perfect for logistics/distribution due to its proximity to I-75 and Hwy 84. The Authority is also currently working on the addition of a 100 (one hundred) acre site just south of Moody Air Force Base. This park will be reserved for defense and aviation/aerospace projects.
While searching for new industrial park sites, the Authority has identified over 800 (eight hundred) acres of additional land, suitable for industry, throughout the county including over 75 (seventy five) acres on the Valdosta Regional Airport property reserved for aviation related projects.
No matter what type of land requirement a new or expanding industry may need, Valdosta Lowndes County, GA stands ready to meet it.
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STATE OF GEORGIA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Sonny Perdue
GOVERNOR
For Immediate Release Contact: Office of Communications, (404) 651-7774
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Governor Perdue Announces Sterling Energy Assets Plans for 40-megawatt
Renewable Energy Power Plant in Valdosta
New company, Wiregrass Power, LLC, will create 25 jobs and invest $110 million in Lowndes
County
ATLANTA-Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that Wiregrass Power,
LLC plans to locate a 40-megawatt renewable energy power plant in Valdosta. The company
will create 25 jobs and invest $110 million over the next three years as the plant comes online.
"Georgia's status as the nation's Bioenergy Corridor continues to grow with the location
of a renewable energy power plant in Valdosta," said Governor Perdue. "Our vast supply of
biomass, technology innovations and business-friendly environment are very attractive to
companies such as Wiregrass Power."
The Wiregrass Electric Generating Facility will be developed on 22.1 acres of land next
to the Mud Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project is planned for commercial startup in
2012, and groundbreaking is scheduled for 2010. Electricity from the Wiregrass project will be
sold to Georgia utilities and put to the electric grid via a 115-kilovolt transmission line adjacent
to the project site.
Wiregrass will bring additional renewable energy to Georgia's electricity mix. The
biomass project will be powered by clean wood waste that would otherwise go unused and
sludge from the nearby wastewater treatment plant. By consuming an estimated 12 tons of sludge
daily, Wiregrass will prevent disposal of that same volume of sludge in landfills, creating an
additional environmental benefit.
The project will make beneficial use of reclaimed water, the byproduct of the waste water
treatment plant. Using approximately 750,000 gallons per day of the reclaimed water will
eliminate an external source of cooling water and reduce the discharge of reclaimed water into
Mud Creek. The City of Valdosta will create a revenue stream from sale of the reclaimed water,
the return of waste water and potentially the sale of potable water.
Wiregrass Power, LLC is wholly owned by Atlanta-based Sterling Energy Assets. The
company worked with the Georgia Center of Innovation for Energy, which draws on the
Georgia's vast resources to expand and strengthen the state's bio-energy industry.
"We're excited to see this project moving forward," said Jill Stuckey, Director of the
Center of Innovation for Energy. "Using a local supply of woody biomass to generate 40
megawatts of electricity, the plant will provide a reliable source of renewable energy for many
years to come."
"In this time of economic uncertainty, one constant is the growing need for electricity
that powers productivity and maintains our standard of living," said Bob Turner, Wiregrass
Project Director and Director of Project Development for Sterling Energy Assets. "This
renewable energy project will help satisfy these basic needs while also producing environmental
benefits, diversifying the state's energy mix and creating local economic benefits such as 25
permanent new jobs and increased tax revenue. Sterling Energy Assets is proud to develop this
project in our home state of Georgia, with its business-friendly environment and strong
commitment to the expansion of renewable energy resources."
"With the announcement of Wiregrass Power, LLC, the City of Valdosta, Ga. has staked
its claim as a national leader in realizing the potential economic impact of renewable energy
while successfully recruiting one of the nation's most admired green companies," said Brad
Lofton, Executive Director, Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority. "The $110 million
project will have a very tangible impact on our employment and tax base while serving as a
catalyst for the creation of a sustainable and renewable energy cluster in South Georgia."
Michelle Shaw, project manager for the Georgia Department of Economic Development,
assisted the company in its location.
About the company
Sterling Planet Holdings, Inc. owns and invests in companies that target economic,
environmental and social returns. The company's two wholly owned subsidiaries, Sterling
Planet, Inc. and Sterling Energy Assets, complement and support each other, with a common
focus on sustainability. Sterling Planet, Inc. is an innovative leader in the renewable energy,
energy efficiency and carbon markets, serving a broad array of utility, commercial, government
and residential customers. Sterling Energy Assets, Inc. develops, owns and operates highly
efficient renewable energy projects that produce electric power and steam for electric utilities
and industrial facilities.
Chris Schrimpf
Office of Governor Sonny Perdue
(404) 651-7774
Published April 24, 2009 12:04 am -
By Malynda Fulton
LAKE PARK - The staff of the Home Depot Rapid Deployment Center in Lake Park was joined by Gov. Sonny Perdue and several other officials and dignitaries for a grand opening and board cutting ceremony Thursday.
In celebration of the company's new 657,000-square-foot Rapid Deployment Center, Perdue toured the facility along with The Home Depot Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Frank Blake. Perdue and Blake then joined the center�s general manager, Chris Falcon, for the ceremony.
Falcon welcomed attendees and introduced The Home Depot center's staff. The staff then made a short presentation.
Blake expressed his pride in introducing the new facility.
"This is a very important moment for The Home Depot," said Blake. "The mechanization of this building, as well as the well-trained and experienced staff, make this center the cornerstone of the future of The Home Depot."
Perdue referred to The Home Depot as a �true success story that we have watched progress right before our eyes." He thanked Blake, as well as state, regional and local officials responsible for creating new jobs in the community, as well as in the state.
"The opening of this facility is a signal that this company will continue to grow, even in this economic downturn," Perdue said. "The Home Depot is on the forefront of helping people rebuild their lives."
Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority Executive Brad Lofton recognized several people responsible for the completion of the project.
"They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it also takes a village to build a project of this magnitude," Lofton said.
On behalf of the staff of the new center, Falcon presented the governor with a personal apron signed by every employee. Falcon also presented a personal apron to Blake.
The grand opening came to a close with the cutting of the first board by Perdue.
As a Rapid Deployment Center, the new facility will move products in and out to The Home Depot stores. The center is located on 89 acres in the Lake Park Industrial Park and will serve approximately 150 Home Depot retail stores throughout the Southeast. The center has already created approximately 200 jobs in the community and is committed to creating 50 more this year. The center is also expected to create 400 jobs in the first three years.
The Home Depot is a Fortune 500 Atlanta-based home improvement products retailer. Founded in 1978,
The Home Depot Inc. is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer and the second largest retailer in the United States with fiscal 2006 sales of $90.8 billion and earnings of $5.8 billion.
.jpg) |
| An inside view of the 657,600-square-foot The Home Depot Rapid Deployment Center in Lake Park. The facility is larger than 11 football fields. The center began operations on April 20 but had its official grand opening on Thursday. |
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| Chris Falcon, general manager of The Home Depot Rapid Deployment Center, watches Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Frank Blake and Gov. Sonny Perdue mark the grand opening of the Lake Park center by sawing a ceremonial piece of lumber. |
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Congratulations to Saft America for being awarded the contract to provide Lithium-ion Batteries for the U.S. Air Force Global Hawk Project. Production is slated for 2004 to 2010.
For Immediate Release
February 26, 2009
THE HOME DEPOT SEEKS TO HIRE 200 FOR NEW DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN VALDOSTA
Company Currently Hiring Full-Time Warehouse and Office Positions
Valdosta, GA - The Valdosta Lowndes County Industrial Authority is proud to announce The Home Depot is currently seeking applicants for several hundred jobs at its new distribution center located on Peterson Road in Lake Park, Lowndes County Georgia. The 657,000 sq-ft facility will open later this spring. The world's largest home improvement retailer is hiring full-time positions for the center, which will help to improve service and increase efficiency at its retail locations throughout portions of the Southeast. General warehouse and office positions are available.
The Home Depot offers one of the most comprehensive benefits packages in the retail industry, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401k, a discounted stock purchase plan, and its Success Sharing bonus program for eligible full- and part-time associates. The available positions are located inside a climate-controlled environment and are for a Monday - Friday work week. Additional positions will be available after the facility opens later this spring. Home Depot associates build their careers, share the values of The Home Depot, and volunteer together in the community.
The Home Depot is an equal opportunity employer. The home improvement retailer seeks candidates with a passion for learning and for teamwork, and those who enjoy a challenging and dynamic work environment. Applicants may visit http://careers.homedepot.com to read job descriptions, view a video that provides a behind-the-scenes view of the work environment, and to apply.
Brad Lofton, Executive Director of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority, states "With the state of today's economy, the announcement that The Home Depot will be hiring 200 employees couldn't have come at a better time. This facility will have a very positive impact on our entire seventeen county region."
Contact: Craig Fishel, The Home Depot, (770) 384-2512
Sarah Molinari, The Home Depot, (770) 384-5504
Brad Lofton, Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority, (229) 259-9972
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N.51-08
Saft launches production of new battery range specifically
designed for telecom networks
Dedicated production line at Valdosta (Georgia, USA) has a capacity of
over 16 000 48 V Tel.X batteries per year.
Paris, December 22, 2008 - Saft, leader in the design, development and manufacture of high-
end batteries for industry, has completed its investment in its new Tel.X nickel-based product
range designed specifically for telecom networks applications. The investment programme just
completed is a new $9 million production line at its US manufacturing facility in Valdosta (Georgia,
United States).
The Tel.X battery range is designed to deliver reliable backup power for the growing number of
decentralized facilities, supporting fixed, wireless, cable and cellular networks, which are in remote
or demanding outdoor locations.
The new manufacturing line will enable Saft to expand its customer base in a market where
performance, reliability and low TCO (total cost of ownership) are crucial. Its focus is on providing a
high quality, maintenance-free battery solution for applications subjected to extreme temperature
as well as high levels of humidity. With an extended range of capacities, smaller batteries and long
service life, the Tel.X batteries are ideally suited for the majority of telecom network applications.
Xavier Delacroix, the General Manager of Saft's IBG division says, "We believe that despite the
short-term issues we reported in November in the telecom market, the Tel.X product range will
lead to increased sales and market share for Saft. We currently have approximately 2% market
share in the telecom network market with our nickel-based batteries. The potential is therefore
considerable. Our new production line is a major commitment to this market with very significant
growth potential and we are ready to expand it further as demand develops."
Tel.X Ni-Cd battery
Saft's Tel.X battery offers important advantages for demanding outdoor telecom applications in
remote areas. It is both maintenance-free and compact, light and easy to install around 15
minutes for a 48 V battery.
Tel.X has an exceptionally long service life, over 20 years in normal temperatures and more than
14 years at +40C. So, in many cases the battery can be expected to outlive other parts of the
installation, during which time, under normal operating conditions, it will not need topping-up with
water.
The battery also offers high volumic energy density, of up to 100 Wh/L while weighing around 30
per cent less than a conventional battery. It is designed for use in standard 19"and 23" raks and
cabinets, where its compact size makes it easy to fit and install as a direct replacement for VRLA
batteries and it is compatible with all telecom rectifiers.
Tel.X is ideally suited for backup power applications in outdoor installations, such as cabinets and
end terminals in fibre-optic triple-play networks as well as BTS (Base Transceiver Station) and
BSC (Base Station Controller) installations in wireless networks.
Saft's Tel.X batteries are available in a wide range of capacities. They are being tested by a
number of customers around the world.
Page 2
About Saft
Saft (Euronext: Saft) is a world specialist in the design and manufacture of high-tech batteries for
industry. Saft batteries are used in high performance applications such as industrial infrastructure
and processes, transportation, space and defence. Saft is the world's leading manufacturer of
nickel-cadmium batteries for industrial applications and of primary lithium batteries for a wide range
of end markets. The group is also the European leader for specialised advanced technologies for
the defence and space industries. With approximately 4,000 employees worldwide, Saft is present
in 18 countries. Its 15 manufacturing sites and extensive sales network enable the group to serve
its customers worldwide.
Saft is listed in Paris Stock Market. The stock is mentioned in SBF 120 index.
For more information, visit Saft at www.saftbatteries.com
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Bringing Industry to Lowndes County
Lofton and Golden discuss plan to bring in new and keep existing industry
By Matt Flumerfelt
VALDOSTA - Even amid reports of job losses statewide, Valdosta continues to add new jobs.
Read the PDF here.
Brad Lofton, director of the Lowndes County Industrial Authority, said Valdosta has already added 1,700 new jobs in the past 24 months. One reason Valdosta continues to grow despite upward trends in unemployment at the state and national levels is due in part to the aggressive policies implemented by the Industrial Authority board in cooperation with city and county governments.
The Lowndes County Industrial Authority has recently established an aggressive, targeted marketing plan to attract new industries to Valdosta and Lowndes County, Lofton said. The authority is focusing its marketing efforts on three clusters or classes of industry - advanced manufacturing (businesses like aviation, automotive and defense), life sciences (pharmaceutical, bio-technology, health care related and agricultural-related research and development) and logistics (distribution centers like Home Depot, Dillards, Smith Pharmaceutical, FedEx and Lowes).
"Valdosta and Lowndes County have enjoyed historically low unemployment compared to the rest of the state and the nation," Lofton said, "so it doesn�t make sense to recruit industry for the sole benefit of adding employment unless the new jobs will provide a tangible increase in the community�s median income and quality of life."
The Industrial Authority is currently working with business owners from Wyoming, Pennsylvania and California who are contemplating locating their businesses in Lowndes County.
"Part of the authority's strategy for attracting manufacturing jobs is to have the sites shovel ready," Lofton said, making sure that all the infrastructure and resources are there in advance, that things like utilities and the proper zoning is in place.
Three businesses that have already made the move to Lowndes county , True Flight, Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, and Steeda Autosports will bring 407 jobs and $43.8 million in capital investment over the next three years, according to a recent write up in Expansion Solutions magazine.
Lofton said that having pro-manufacturing advocates at the state level gives added impetus to businesses looking for suitable communities to move to. Georgia State Senator Tim Golden, D-Valdosta, recently announced the formation of a Manufacturing Study Panel.
"At the end of the study," the press release from Golden's office states, "the committee will make recommendations for legislation to be considered during the 2009 session of the General Assembly.
The purpose of the panel is to make it more attractive for manufacturers to locate in Georgia and to "help existing industries keep and expand their employment base."
Golden has been trying since 1996 to remove the 4-cent state sales tax on energy, an effort that earned him the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Legislator of the Year Award in 2007.
"Energy is number one. That's the prime subject of concern to all the plant managers, mills and industrial plants all over the state," said Golden. "It really hurts our existing industries, who can close a plant and move it to a more friendly state, and of course hurts recruitment of industry. There are many factors in this, but energy is certainly a key component of the equation."
Topics studied by the panel have been energy costs, environmental and other regulations, health care costs, workforce development, and innovations and research among other things.
On the subject of workforce development, one problem the panel has run into, Golden said, is that "employers say they take 100 applicants, only 30 turn out to be possibilities and they may hire 10 that are qualified."
A study written by Dr. Roger Tutterow and cited by Golden, gives several reasons why manufacturing is so crucial to Georgia and the nation's economy. According to the study, manufacturing drives wealth creation, provides employment, compensates employees at a higher rate than most non-manufacturing businesses, and offers other fringe benefits, like group insurance and 401K plans. Manufacturing also has a significant multiplier effect, as it increases wealth in communities by purchasing raw materials locally, subcontracting with other local businesses, and stimulates local economies when employees use their wages to purchase local goods and services.
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Published July 28, 2008 11:28 pm -
Valdosta named TitleTown
By Bryan Fazio
VALDOSTA - When Jessie Tuggle clutched the three-foot tall trophy Monday and turned toward the thousands in the home stands of Bazemore- Hyder Stadium, the place erupted in cheers.
Valdosta officially became TitleTown.
ESPN returned to the Valdosta High School football stadium for a 2 p.m. taping Monday, which aired later in the day, declaring Valdosta as TitleTown USA.
"I think it's great for the community," Valdosta State football coach David Dean said. "It says a lot for all those who set the precedent early in high school football, and every sport which takes place in Valdosta . It's exciting to be part of TitleTown."
The news hit the area early Monday morning and spread around noon, when people began showing up at the stadium.
ESPN then let the world know during the 6 p.m. showing of SportsCenter.
Not only were fans, athletes and coaches of Valdosta State, Valdosta, Lowndes, Valwood, Open Bible and Georgia Christian in attendance, but also there were Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, Sen. Tim Golden (D-Valdosta), Valdosta Mayor John Fretti, City Manager Larry Hansen, the Georgia Bridgemen, the Valdosta Marching Cats and others.
"We're obviously ecstatic about the TitleTown USA designation," Mayor Fretti said. "And we're going to make the nation proud of Valdosta carrying this title."
Valdosta received 29.2 percent of the votes on an Internet vote held Wednesday through Sunday.
Out of the 20 finalists, just the top six were mentioned during the SportsCenter presentation of TitleTown USA . Parkersburg, W.Va. finished second, with 24.4 percent of the votes, followed by Green Bay, Wis. (11.2 percent), Massillon, Ohio (6.7 percent), Boston (5.8 percent) and Gainesville, Fla. (5.2 percent.)
Valdosta hit the voting en masse and picked up support from throughout the country. That included Donna Nix, the mother of ESPN reporter Wendi Nix, who voted around 100 times for Valdosta after her daughter visited the city for the TitleTown USA taping on July 9. Donna Nix was so impressed with the showing of Valdosta back on July 16 she tried to find out if the town was the winner before it was allowed to become public Monday afternoon.
"She called me and wanted to know where I was, and I said TitleTown USA, I can't tell you where, but I�m in TitleTown," Wendi said." She asked, "Is it Valdosta, is it Valdosta?"
Indeed, it was Valdosta , and although word got out Monday morning, ESPN broadcast it to the world that evening.
"We were able to really showcase Valdosta to the entire nation," Cagle said. "This victory really solidifies in my mind the true national champion that Valdosta is."
Cagle has been on a week-long tour to various media outlets throughout Atlanta and the state of Georgia trying to urge the state to vote for the South Georgia city. The campaigning and relentless voting from Valdosta paid off as the city picked up nearly 30 percent of an estimated one million votes.
"You cannot buy national attention like this," new Valdosta State University President Patrick Schloss said. "It comes out of the community, the athletes and the university community coming together."
"It was my first day here, and it was bigger than anything I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of big things. I know what it takes to make things like this happen, and I have my deepest admiration to everyone in the community."
Indeed, the feel around Bazemore-Hyder and the various outlets which showed the SportsCenter broadcast was that this was one of the biggest things to ever hit Valdosta.
The city thinks so, too. Road signs are being made marking Valdosta as TitleTown USA , including one which was quickly fabricated for the broadcast on Monday.
"TitleTown USA is about being the best sports town in the nation, and all that it has to offer," Cagle said. "The enthusiasm ingrained in the tradition here, I think, that's what football and that's what sports is all about."
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STATE OF GEORGIA OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR Sonny Perdue GOVERNOR
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Governor Perdue recognizes the City of Valdosta on being selected as a finalist on ESPN's TitleTown
ATLANTA - Governor Sonny Perdue issued a proclamation today congratulating Valdosta, Georgia as being selected as one of ESPN's 20 finalists for the honor of being named TitleTown USA.
ESPN's TitleTown is an ongoing contest featured on ESPN's flagship show, SportsCenter, where sports fans throughout the nation were allowed to submit nominations for what they considered to be TitleTown USA. In all more than 3,000 different applications were received and out of those ESPN selected 20 finalists. Valdosta, the only city in Georgia to be named a finalist, is competing against major cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Boston and Detroit. The winner will be selected by sports fans throughout the nation who can submit their vote on ESPN's website.
Valdosta was selected due to the city's unprecedented athletic achievements. In all, the city of Valdosta claims 439 championships of some type. The city, aptly nicknamed Winnersville, is most notably known for football giants Valdosta High School, Lowndes High School and Valdosta State University.
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Analyst: Valdosta 'recession-proof'
The Associated Press
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, business consultant and president of JobBait.com Mark Hovind ranked every metropolitan statistical area across the country, highlighting those he deemed to be recession-proof. The city of Valdosta was the only Georgia city to make the list.
There's all kinds of talk these days about companies, industries and careers that are immune to economic downswings. But are there recession-proof places?
Hovind thinks so.
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Hovind compared job expansion in a number of key industries and workforce growth in various metropolitan areas. He came up with a list of about two-dozen areas where jobs outpaced the workforce during the recessions of 1990 and 2001, and in the past year, and figured they'd likely fare well in another downturn.
Among the metropolitan areas making his list were Prescott, Ariz.; Fayetteville, Ark.; Bakersfield, Calif.; Grand Junction, Colo.; Bend, Ore.; Valdosta; and Morgantown, W.Va. Valdosta is the only recession-proof city in Georgia, according to Hovind's list.
"Each has an economy built around some industry - or mix of industries - that don't follow the business cycle pattern," says Matt Martin, an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank's Charlotte office. They're regional health-care centers, state capitals or university towns.
Like State College, home to Pennsylvania State University, which is also on the list.
With its 24,000 full- and part-time employees and record fall enrollment of 42,200 students, the school is the economic engine that runs this town nestled amid the hills and hardwood forests of central Pennsylvania.
On a recent weekday midmorning, waitresses at the Original Waffle Shop on West College Avenue bustled about the bright, cheery restaurant, filling the coffee mugs of salesmen in suits and retirees gossiping about Penn State football. John Dimakopoulos says business has done nothing but climb since he opened the doors in 1972.
"For State College to feel the crunch, that means every place else will be suffering," says Dimakopoulos, 59.
Outside town, things aren't quite as cheerful. Corning Inc. laid off more than 1,000 workers in 2003 when it shut down a television picture-tube plant in College Township, and Bolton Metal Products announced earlier this year it was closing a century-old brass rod factory in nearby Bellefonte and cutting almost 200 jobs.
But job gains at the university were nearly enough to offset those losses, Penn State economist Ted Fuller says. A new law school building is currently under construction, and a university-affiliated retirement community about a mile from Beaver Stadium is attracting alumni and newcomers to the town.
"That might make State College somewhat of a one-industry town," Fuller says. But locals are fortunate that it's a clean, white-collar industry that pays well, continues to add jobs, and is nearly immune from the changing fortunes of the business cycle.
The same is true in Morgantown, home of the West Virginia University Mountaineers.
"If somebody's cutting back, it's not really affecting their travel," says Renee Braley, an agent with National Travel. "With my people, it's business as usual. .... I'm doing the Middle East, Egypt, Italy."
Flashing on her computer screen is an itinerary for a Rome trip with a price tag of $1,889. That same trip a year ago would have cost much less, she says.
"It's blowing my mind, but they're buying," she says, noting that one customer booked a $9,000 spring break trip for his family, then came back a few days later for a $13,000 jaunt to Hawaii. " They're still asking questions like, "Will $2,000 or $3,000 more get me a better hotel?" So they're not cutting back.
"They should be, but they're not."
In Olympia, Wash., the local cash cow is state government.
At the southernmost tip of scenic Puget Sound, the population of this smallish city of 44,000 swells during the legislative session, when lawmakers, lobbyists and special interest groups swarm downtown coffee shops and eateries. Olympia is home not only to the Capitol and the bustle of politics that surrounds it, but also to two regional hospitals, Evergreen State College and a lively arts community.
In addition to numerous galleries, downtown Olympia hosts the Washington Center, home to the Olympia Symphony Orchestra, Harlequin Productions at the historic State Theater, as well as the Capital Playhouse. The 125-seat, black-box theater runs 11 musicals a year, and the three-week shows were so popular, they added another weekend to each musical starting last September.
None of those things individually is a significant driver by themselves, but what they do do is drive the economies of other businesses, says Jeff Kingsbury, who founded the playhouse. It's such a diverse mix of businesses and the thriving arts, it really helps stabilize the economy all the time.
Located between Seattle and Portland, and close to both the mountains and the coast, Olympia also earns points for air quality, low crime and other quality-of-life measures. But it's that constant of state government that is the great equalizer for us, says Michael Cade, executive director of Thurston County Economic Development Council.
State capitals are good, especially if ... state government's large relative to the size of the town, says Martin, the Fed economist.
Of course, even these well-insulated places Martin's term would feel the effects of a recession.
Hovind says his use of the term recession-proof shouldn't be misconstrued as meaning a place is untouched by economic malaise.
It's not absolute. You can't look at it in those terms. This is a continuous scale of gray, he says.
Despite continued job growth and housing prices that are still climbing, the Triangle didn't make Hovind's list.
People get the mistaken impression that the Triangle with the state government in Raleigh, the pharmaceutical firms of the Research Triangle Park, and the major research centers of Duke, NC State and UNC is recession-proof, says NC State economist Michael Walden.
But the area is also heavily dependent on the technology and financial services sectors, both of which were hit hard in 2001 and would likely suffer in another recession, he says.
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Home Sweet Home: Home Depot to build new distribution center
By Malynda Fulton, The Valdosta Daily Times
LAKE PARK - It's finally official! Home Depot is the Fortune 500 company building a new distribution center in Lowndes County.
Gov. Sonny Perdue made the announcement that Lowndes County will be the home of Home Depot�s new regional distribution center, which will create more than 400 new jobs in the area within 36 months.
"Having one of Georgia's largest and most admired companies expand in our state shows that we're not just a great place to get started, but also a great place to grow," said Gov. Perdue. "Our strong business climate and strength in logistics continues to attract top-tier retailers like The Home Depot."
The Home Depot, an Atlanta-based home improvement products retailer, plans to occupy a 657,600 square-foot distribution facility on 89 acres in the Lake Park Industrial Park in December of 2008. According to Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority Executive Director Brad Lofton, the distribution center is expected to be Lake Park's largest employer. Lofton added that the center's opening will have a significant, positive impact on the regional workforce, employing large numbers of people from South Georgia and North Florida.
The community partnered with the State Department of Economic Development and other local and regional partners during the successful site selection process. The center, which should be operational in the first quarter of 2009, is to be developed by IDI, Inc, a top ranked Atlanta-based developer specializing in providing strategically-located warehouse and distribution facilities for Fortune 500 clients. The selected construction company is Catamount Constructors, also of Atlanta.
Founded in 1978, The Home Depot, Inc. is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer and the second largest retailer in the United States with fiscal 2006 sales of $90.8 billion and earnings of $5.8 billion.
This announcement is a continuation of positive economic development news for the Valdosta metropolitan statistical area-one that has recently been awarded a consecutive top three designation in the U.S. as a location for new industry by Site Selection Magazine.
"The Home Depot's decision to locate their new facility in Lake Park underscores our community's standing as a premier destination for distribution and logistics operations," Industrial Authority Chairman John Peeples said. "In addition to being blessed with a terrific geographic location, our community is very fortunate to have local and state leaders who are dedicated to quality growth, and who work together tirelessly toward that goal."
Lowndes County Commission Chairman Rod Casey identified the announcement as further proof of Lowndes County emerging as a hub for logistics in the Southeastern United States.
A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Monday at the Lake Park Industrial Park.
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Bakery Goes Vertical By Malynda Fulton, The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA � Dignitaries gathered on Potato Roll Lane near Interstate 75 Tuesday to help Martin�s Famous Pastry Shoppe celebrate during the official �going vertical� ceremony for its new building.
Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc. founder Jim Martin, right, with Industrial Authority Chairman John Peeples, watching a wall panel put into place at the Tilt Up ceremony Tuesday at the worksite for the bakery off of Old Clyattville Road.
The 186,000 square-foot facility, scheduled to produce its first roll off the production line on Oct. 1 of this year, is said to be ahead of schedule in construction. The construction company has begun to lift the tilt concrete panels in place, bringing the facility one step closer to completion.
�You will see this area evolve from nothing to a building in the next 10 days,� said Martin�s Famous Pastry Shoppe Executive Vice President Ron Gipe before leading ceremony attendees out to the construction site to view workers lifting and transporting concrete, a total of 8,500 cubic yards. �I�m just thrilled with the participation of Elkins (Construction Company), as well as the citizens, to ensure that we are on time and within budget. It gives me chills to think about the dedication put into this project.�
This facility, located on a 40-acre site near the airport and Exit 13, will employ an initial 150-member workforce and will house a state-of-the-art, combination potato bread and roll line. The family owned and operated company remains headquartered in Chambersburg, Penn., where it began in the 1950s in the kitchen of the Martin home located in the heart of �Pennsylvania Dutch� country. The idea to market a family recipe that had been handed down through generations was conceived by Lois and Lloyd Martin. As the demand for their product steadily increased over the company�s first 20 years, the bakery moved into the Martin�s Family Restaurant before finally building a production plant in 1978, where the family continues to do business today.
Martin�s continues the tradition today as the �original� potato roll manufacturers producing a line of potato roll and bread products that are distributed up and down the East Coast. Their current location forces their drivers to travel 1,100 miles one way to deliver their product to the Georgia and Florida markets.
According to Martin�s Famous Pastry Shoppe President Jim Martin, the taste of the bread is especially appealing to southern communities, which made Lowndes County an excellent location for the facility, beating out Adel and Lake City, Fla. due to available labor pool and quality of the city�s water supply.
�The local community has been very supportive and we feel like we�re home,� Martin said. �We are currently working with the Department of Labor to recruit managers. Several members of our leadership team have also expressed interest in moving to assist with this facility.�
Martin�s Famous Pastry Shoppe will go on record as one of the top five industrial investments ever made in the area. According to Industrial Authority Executive Director Brad Lofton, the company has already been rewarded $1,000,000 from the state and $750,000 from the federal government. Martin�s is expected to bring a variety of jobs with average wages of $52,000 per year, making them one of the top five highest paying employers in the county.
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Runway extension By Billy Bruce
VALDOSTA - In another event that signifies the area's continuing evolution into a growing metropolitan area, city and county officials and business leaders Thursday celebrated the completion of the extension of Valdosta Regional Airport�s main runway, Runway 17-35.
The extension actually was finished and operational in August, but closed for a week in November to repair two dips, then re-opened.
Under late-morning misty gray, drizzling skies, VIPs that included elected officials, local airport general aviation CEOs, Georgia Department of Transportation and FAA representatives, airport employees and the media were shuttled by bus to the foot of the extension for a rare chance to literally stand in the middle of the airport runway � a crime under most any other unofficial circumstance.
They watched as Mayor John Fretti, County Commissioner G. Robert Carter and Valdosta-Lowndes Airport Authority members cut a ribbon to officially declare the long-awaited extension open for business.
DayJet was supposed to fly a jet or two onto the extension as part of the ceremony, but a soupy sky prevented the exercise. An Eclipse model DayJet a three-passenger state-of-the-art jet used as the company's flagship aircraft was on hand for the event, as were DayJet representatives.
Mayor Fretti interrupted his brief remarks to throw in a one-liner.
"Will somebody please tell me if an airplane is coming," he joked, provoking laughter from the attendees who all were staring down the middle of a runway where passenger jets fly in and out daily.
"I think everyone saw the vision from the start on this," Fretti said. "It's just the springboard. It is up to us to make it work. It's ours to lose now. It's ours to take to the next level. It's truly a proud moment to be standing on this runway."
The extension stretches the runway from the former 6,302 foot length to 8,002 feet by adding an additional 1,700 feet for a total cost of approximately $3.9 million. The construction started in September 2005 and was finished in August 2007. A slight dip in the completed pavement also was repaired by the end of 2007.
The Scruggs Construction Company and Ace Electric were contractors for the project. The Airport Authority collected financial support from the Georgia Department of Transportation, FAA, city of Valdosta, Lowndes County SPLOST money and passenger fees to pay for the extension.
"We have been working on this project since 2003," Valdosta Regional Airport Manager and Airport Authority Executive Director Bob Holliway told Thursday's 30 or so attendees. "The city and the county - I cannot say enough about them. They gave us the money we asked for the first time and then when we had to go back and ask for a little more money, they gave us everything we needed. We look forward to a lot more ceremonies like this in the future."
Now the regional airport can accept landings from any sized plane, from Air Force One to jumbo jets. The extension places the airport's runway in third place, length-wise, behind Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport and Savannah International Airport.
Local officials hailed the runway work as strong, a catalyst for economic development and as a good example of how city and county government can team with the business community to beef up local infrastructure that's paramount for recruiting new industry.
"You are foolish to wait around until you need a longer runway to build one," Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority Chairman Joe Prater said after the ceremony. "Many, many of the companies of the size and scope that we try to recruit here own their own aircraft. We want them to know we have the facilities to meet their needs. The extra runway gives us this. We don't have to say, - Come and we will build this." We have it now. Come. It's here. We can probably do a lot of things with this runway we haven't even thought about."
Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority Executive Director Brad Lofton touted the project's importance for helping to recruit new industry and jobs.
"What they have done today is absolutely critical," Lofton said. "An airport is one of the top three ingredients for recruiting new business. In Valdosta's case, on all three big recruitments we achieved last year, with Steeda, True Flight Aerospace Tiger Aircraft and Martin's Bakery, all three listed a fully functional airport as key criteria and top priority as part of their decision on whether they would come here.
Former Airport Authority Chairman Clarence Parker and current Chairman Joe Prater, Bob Holliway, Valdosta Regional Airport general manager, Lowndes County Commissioner G. Robert Carter and Valdosta Mayor John Fretti cut the ribbon Thursday during the official opening of a runway extension.
"What the Airport Authority has done, and the city and county leaders, is to demonstrate the kind of leadership that makes it easier for the Industrial Authority to do its job," Lofton concluded.
More important airport projects are in the works.
Design work is complete for Taxiway A parallel to Runway 17-35 which will be overlaid with new asphalt this year. The project will enhance the safety and accessibility for all aircraft utilizing the taxiway. Design work to expand the commercial aircraft parking ramp at the commercial terminal is complete. Once construction is completed, the ramp will be able to accommodate larger aircraft, enabling the airport to accept larger passenger aircraft, and increase aircraft and passenger security, Holliway said. "This is a very exciting day for our airport," he said.
Airport Authority members also hope to work with local government officials to find alternative funding sources to pay for construction of more corporate T-hangars, another area of critical shortage at the airport. The authority"s budget for capital improvements, buffered by SPLOST funds, is sorely limited for meeting those needs in the near future, but authority members have pledged to seek solutions to the deficiency.
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Valdosta GA, May 24, 2007 Roberts Irrigation Products move into Valdosta
Valdosta, GA - The Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority and Roberts Irrigation Products, a wholly owned subsidiary of Deere & Company, took an opportunity today to celebrate the progress of their new Valdosta production facility. A joint Press Conference was held today to announce Roberts plans to expand their organization by opening their eastern production facility in Valdosta-Lowndes County and to update the community on the progress of the facility. �The building is being transformed into a key production facility which can serve both the local market and many international markets,� said John Roberts, President of Roberts Irrigation Products. �The decision to produce in Valdosta was driven by several key factors including its skilled workforce, presence of a local plastics industry, and its proximity to major highways and ports�.
�John Deere is pleased become a part of the Valdosta community,� said Michael McGrady, President of Deere Precision Water. �A Valdosta facility has been part of Roberts Irrigation�s plan for several years and the expansion fits into Deere & Company�s Precision Water Growth Initiative.�
Roberts Irrigation Products is no stranger to this community. Through United Irrigation (Quitman, GA), Roberts Irrigation has supplied irrigation products to Georgia growers for nearly twenty years. �We will rely on the services and the people of the community to help make the factory successful�, said John Roberts. �We are going to produce irrigation products in South Georgia that will be sold throughout the world. Roberts Irrigation is proud of the choice to produce in Valdosta and looks forward to becoming a vital part of the community.�
The Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority and the State of Georgia have worked diligently to help bring this project to its successful conclusion. The state is providing $200,000.00 through a OneGeorgia Edge Grant. The Authority contributed a 1.78 acre tract of land adjacent to the existing facilities on M. E. Thompson Dr. for the expansion of the building and the extension of the rail spur and assistance in building the spur. In return Roberts will make a sizable capital investment in Valdosta-Lowndes County as well as create 65 new quality jobs over the next five years.
Roberts Irrigation Products is a manufacturer of high performance plastic micro and drip irrigation products for the agricultural, nursery, landscape, and greenhouse markets headquartered in San Marcos, CA. Founded in 1968, Roberts Irrigation Products is one of the world�s leaders in high performance precision irrigation, selling its products in over 40 countries.
John Deere (Deere & Company - NYSE: DE) is the world�s leading provider of advanced products and services for agriculture and forestry and a major provider of advanced products and services for construction, lawn and turf care, landscaping and irrigation. John Deere also provides financial services worldwide and manufactures and markets engines used in heavy equipment. Since it was founded in 1837, the company has extended its heritage of integrity, quality, commitment and innovation around the globe.
Roberts Irrigation will be hiring skilled production operators, maintenance technicians and warehouse staff in the second half of 2007. To inquire about specific employment opportunities, contact Manya Bebieff at (800) 685-5557 x126.
Contact Information:
Brian Jewell, Roberts Irrigation Products 760-744-4511
Brad Lofton, Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority 229-259-9972
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Valdosta GA, May 16, 2007 - Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc. Southern Plant Site Selection
The Valdosta Lowndes County Industrial Authority and Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc. today announced plans to build an approximately 220,000-square-foot bakery facility on a 40-acre site in Valdosta-Lowndes County, Georgia. The facility will house a state-of-the-art, combination bread and roll line that is expected to begin producing and shipping product to the existing market in the fourth calendar quarter of 2008. At this new facility, Martin's expects to employ an estimated 100 full-time people from the Valdosta Metro area.
A Christian family-owned business, Martin's holds the honor of having the #1 branded fresh buns and rolls sales in the nation, as calculated by Information Resources, Inc. (IRI). The company's efforts to bake the best products and provide the best sales distribution support...and work together fairly with integrity have been rewarded, as IRI also reports that Martin�s holds the highest percentage of the market share of buns and rolls in most of its major markets.
Martin's is very pleased to have reached an agreement with the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority to locate its first satellite production facility in Valdosta-Lowndes County. It has already solicited site excavating and building construction contractors from Valdosta-Lowndes County and the surrounding regional area. The State of Georgia and local authorities have been very committed to this project and have provided significant support to induce Martin's to choose the Valdosta-Lowndes location. Among Valdosta Metro area's advantages are an excellent labor force pool, good interstate logistics, and excellent community support with established infrastructure.
John Peeples, the Chairman of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority stated, "We are electrified by the employment opportunities that Martin's represents for our community, not only because of the outstanding wages and benefits they offer, but also because these are just good people. In twenty years, when we look back on today, we will be surprised if the average tenure of their employees is not longer than fifteen years."
"The cooperation between the City of Valdosta, Lowndes County, and Industrial Authority to bring Martin's to our community is a testament to our commitment to quality industry in Lowndes County. This is a win-win situation for all involved. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe." -Lowndes County Chairman, Rod Casey
"Today, average wages in the Valdosta Metro area are again on the rise and I am personally delighted to welcome Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc., to the Valdosta-Lowndes County community. The marriage of Martin's 40-year rich tradition with Valdosta's charm, escalating economically and celebrated heritage is a win-win combination for all. The City is committed to helping Martin make its smooth transition to this area. We are especially proud that the addition of this first-class industry to our community is also bringing with it 100 new and considerably higher wage jobs! A special thanks to the Industrial Authority members and to all who work hard at contributing to our city's economic growth."-Mayor John J. Fretti, City of Valdosta, Georgia
The company will participate in an official groundbreaking ceremony along with local and State dignitaries and officials on Wednesday, May 16, 2007. Site preparation and excavation is expected to commence immediately following the groundbreaking ceremony, with building construction to follow. For further information, call 717-263-9580 or go to www.mfps.com.
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Valdosta recognized as one of country�s best for business
Kay Harris
VALDOSTA - Site Selection magazine, an influential voice in the nationwide economic development community, has recognized Valdosta as the third hottest Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in its category for industrial recruitment and expansion.
For its annual Governor's Cup awards, the magazine ranked MSAs in three groups - populations of more than 1 million, populations of 200,000 to 1 million and populations less than 200,000, with Valdosta falling into the last category. The metro area was tied with Sioux City, Iowa in third place behind Tuscaloosa, Ala. and Auburn/Opelike, Ala.
Overall, Georgia ranked fifth in the nation behind Ohio, Texas, North Carolina and Virginia.
Site Selection magazine ranked the MSAs based on new and existing industry announcements in 2006. The Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority reported 11 projects, with more than 450 jobs created and $42 million in capital investment by new and existing industries.
"I'm pleased and honored to be selected and noted by Site Selection as the third friendliest community for industry, which proves our commitment to becoming and maintaining an industry-friendly, environmentally-cautious community while preserving the highest quality of life for employees and their families," stated Valdosta Mayor John Fretti.
The Industrial Authority changed hands in mid-2006, with former long-time director Ken Garren retiring and Brad Lofton coming on board. According to Lofton, "We have the best team, not only in Georgia, but in the entire nation working to recruit and provide expansion opportunities for our existing industry."
Lofton serves as the Authority's executive director, with support staff Andrea Schruijer and Lu Williams. John Peeples serves as the Authority's chairman, with members Crawford Powell, Gary Minchew, Carolyn Eager, and Jerry Jennett.
Lowndes County Commission Chairman Rod Casey said, "I'm proud of our community. We've worked hard to get to that position and we've worked hand in hand with the city and the industrial authority, as well as the surrounding communities. I think it was a good choice, the MSA deserves it, the city and county deserve it and we're seeing the fruits of our labor."
The Authority recently established aggressive plans to attract over 3,000 new jobs and $250 million of new investment by 2012. The board is off to a great start with the recent announcement that Steeda Autosports is moving its corporate headquarters, distribution and manfacturing facilities to Valdosta, bringing 100 jobs and a $10 million dollar capital investment.
For more information, visit www.siteselection.com.
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Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority
Announces Premier Ford Performance Parts Manufacturer
100,000 sq. ft. high tech manufacturing facility will be the most advanced center in the world for performance parts manufacturing.
www.steeda.com
Valdosta, GA - The City of Valdosta, Lowndes County, and the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority is pleased to welcome Steeda Autosports to South Georgia and the Valdosta-Lowndes County community. The company, currently located in Pompano Beach, Florida, will relocate its corporate headquarters and production facility to Valdosta and will make an investment of over $10 million in a new state-of-the-art facility and high tech robotic computer numerical control (CNC) and additional cutting edge equipment.
The company�s announcement decision is strong evidence of an effective Industrial Authority marketing campaign targeting top-tier companies in Florida and California. Brad Lofton, Executive Director, notes that Georgia is rapidly becoming a destination state for high end manufacturing and logistics projects. "By locating in Valdosta-Lowndes County, Steeda will have the benefit of the twenty (20) million Floridian consumer market within one day's truck drive, while simultaneously enjoying the pro-business advantages of being in Georgia. Low insurance premiums, utility rates and aggressive state statutory benefits were all critical decision-making components." Valdosta Technical College was also a major draw for the company.
Ford Motor Company has named Steeda Autosports as its Number 1 Performance Aftermarket Company, in the 38 billion dollar performance market. The company works directly with Ford on the SEMA Technology initiative for engine calibration and performance aftermarket parts. As a Ford Motor Company licensee, Steeda Autosports manufactures a variety of parts with the Ford logo. The company manufactures performance engine parts, chassis components, drivetrain parts, exterior and interior restyling parts for Mustang, Focus, F-Series and Fusion vehicle lines. Steeda also produces serialized Steeda vehicle, like the Q Series of Mustangs.
In addition to the manufacturing facility, the complex will also serve as a distribution center for Nitto tires as well as leading performance aftermarket products, like Tokico struts and shocks, Baer brakes and JBA and Magnaflow performance exhaust systems.
Steeda will initially hire between forty and fifty (40-50) employees ramping up to over one hundred (100) within thirty-six (36) months. The average wage is significantly above the state average manufacturing wage and will include mechanical engineers and professional personnel.
John Peeples, Chairman, Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority, stated, "Steeda represents everything the Authority looks for in a prospect: strong economic investment, significant employment covering a wide array of skills and opportunities at above-average compensation, diversification of the local economy, and a presence that expands this community�s significance on the state, national, and global level. The fact that Steeda enjoys a strong reputation for being an outstanding corporate citizen ices the cake."
"We are pleased to welcome Steeda to Georgia," said Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. "The company's decision to locate in our state is an excellent testament to our strong partnerships and rich resources for business."
The project will locate on twenty-five (25) acres within the Industrial Authority�s Azalea East Industrial Park across from Letica Corporation.
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Regal Marine awarded by J.D. Power and Associates
VALDOSTA - Regal Marine was honored by J.D. Power and Associates as being ranked Highest in Customer Satisfaction of Express Cruisers (24-33 feet) as well as Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Small Runabouts (16-19 feet). The ceremony took place Thursday, Feb. 15, at the Miami International Boat Show.
2007 State Incentives Should have a Substantial Impact on New Job Creation and Bottom Line Efficiencies
Existing Industries in Lowndes County will benefit from new job tax credits
Lowndes County - Under Georgia's Business Expansion and Support Legislation (BEST), companies in Lowndes County engaged in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, processing, telecommunications, tourism or research and development are eligible for tax credits that can be claimed against their state corporate income tax liability. The State incentives are meant to stimulate job growth. In 2006, when a company creates ten (10) net new jobs, the company is eligible for a job tax credit of $1,750 per job that can be claimed against 50% of their corporate income tax liability. The incentives have now nearly doubled. As of 2007, companies in Lowndes will now be eligible for $3,000 per job and can claim the credits against 100% of their state corporate income tax liability. For a company creating 50 jobs, this will mean a five-year tax credit equivalent to $750,000 and a five-year increase of $312,500 over and above the 2006 levels. In many cases, the tax credits are large enough to more than compensate for additional machinery and equipment.
"This is good news, and a nice way to begin the New Year" according to Brad Lofton, Executive Director of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority. "Eighty percent of new jobs are still created from existing industry, and the increase in State incentives in 2007 for Lowndes will mean more local incentives for employment growth and corporate profitability. The Industrial Authority staff has met directly with several existing industry in the last six months with plans for expansion in physical assets and employment. The change in tax credits will be an added bonus for those seeking to expand their employment base next year. The combination of 400 new jobs created by the V-LCIA in 2006 and targeted employment expansions will continue the trend of full employment in the state's newest MSA."
The Industrial Authority strongly encourages companies creating additional employment to capitalize on the tax incentives and to communicate with V-LCIA staff when employment expansions occur. If you would like to schedule a visit with Industrial Authority staff to discuss incentives for growth, please contact our office at 229-259-9972.
How it works:
--Employers are eligible for a baseline credit of $2,500/job when they create ten or more new jobs.
--An additional $500/job credit is added for businesses locating in a community that is a member of a Joint Development Authority (JDA).
--Another $500/job credit is extended for existing industries that have been in the Lowndes County community for three years or more.
--The jobs must be created in year one and credits claimed in years 2-6. Credits claimed, however, but not used in any taxable year, may be carried forward for ten (10) years.
--For a company creating 50 jobs: 50 times $3,000= $150,000 carried for five years is $750,000
--For more information: www.dca.state.ga.us "Back To Top"
2006 Review of New Jobs/Capital Investment - Brad Lofton
2006 has been a banner year for the Authority with announcements totaling 398 new jobs created and $41,355,000 dollars in new capital investment from new industry locations and existing industry expansion. If the number and quality of active projects the Authority is currently working on is an indication of how 2007 will go, we will continue the strong momentum of new jobs and investment.
Valdosta/Lowndes County 2006 Announcements
| N/E |
Company |
City |
Jobs |
Investment |
Type |
Product |
Sq. Ft. |
| New |
Valdosta Optics Lab |
Valdosta |
15 |
$14,000,000 |
R&D/Manufacturing |
Diamond Laser Optics |
10,000 |
| New |
Organic Milling of GA |
Valdosta |
175 |
$18,000,000 |
Manufacturing |
Organic Cereal |
350,000 |
| Exp. |
TM Poly Film, Inc. |
Valdosta |
30 |
$1,000,000 |
Manufacturing |
Polyethylene |
30,000 |
| New |
Versatile Packagers |
Valdosta |
6 |
$600,000 |
Service |
Packaging |
30,000 |
| New |
Louisville Ladder |
Valdosta |
10 |
$400,000 |
Distribution |
Ladders |
36,000 |
| Exp. |
FedEx Freight |
Valdosta |
20 |
$3,600,000 |
Service |
Trucking |
100,000 |
| New |
Scales Express |
Valdosta |
75 |
$1,000,000 |
Service |
Trucking |
15,000 |
| Exp. |
J. Reeves & Co. |
Hahira |
5 |
$280,000 |
Distribution |
AC parts |
10,000 |
| New |
Village Metal Works |
Hahira |
6 |
$500,000 |
Manufacturing |
Custom Iron Gates |
15,000 |
| New |
A-Tech |
Valdosta |
16 |
$875,000 |
Manufacturing/Dist. |
Doors/Windows |
45,000 |
| Exp. |
BathCraft/Jacuzzi |
Valdosta |
20 |
$500,000 |
Manufacturing |
Bathroom Fixtures |
200,000 |
| Exp. |
Digger Specialties |
Valdosta |
20 |
$600,000 |
Manufacturing/Dist. |
Vinyl Fence & Decking |
38,000 |
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