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Georgia lures key ag economic development projects

by Compiled by Jay Stone, Georgia Farm Bureau


Posted on Oct 13, 2022 at 0:00 AM


Plans for a broth manufacturing plant in Whitfield County and a large-scale greenhouse in Bibb County, both of which will contribute to Georgia’s agricultural economy, were recently announced along with a company in Jasper County that will produce horticulture growth medium and a meat processing plant in Morgan County.

Essentia Protein Solutions is announcing plans to build a new broth manufacturing plant near Dalton.  The plant will process USDA-inspected, refrigerated raw material to produce food-grade stocks, broths, and fats. The new plant will increase Essentia’s capacity and capabilities for value-added, protein ingredients for human food and nutrition markets.

The Iowa-based company said the project, planned for a 20-acre site, is expected to create 80 new jobs for the area.  Essentia chose Dalton for its new manufacturing site after a thorough review of potential sites across the Southeast U.S.  

Meanwhile, BrightFarms LLC received approval from the Macon-Bibb Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 26 to build a 1.5 million-square-foot hydroponic greenhouse complex near Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Bibb County. The project will generate approximately 300 jobs, according to media reports.

BrightFarms, which was purchased by Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises in August, says it delivers produce to grocery stores as soon as 24 hours after harvest.

The company plans to have two greenhouses up and running in 2024 and two more by 2029.

On Sept. 15, Gov. Brian Kemp announced that global agriscience technology manufacturer Profile Products plans to locate a plant in Jasper County, creating 80 new jobs.

The new plant will produce wood-based erosion control technologies and horticulture growth mediums. The first phase of the facility development is expected to be complete and operational this month and will represent only the company’s initial $35 million investment in Georgia. Additional development of the facility will occur over the following 36 months.

On Oct. 4, the Morgan County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved two measures paving the way for a proposed meat processing plant to open in the county. The facility will offer slaughter services for beef initially, but will eventually expand to offer processing for pork, lamb and goat meat in the future, according to the Morgan County Citizen.

The plant would create as many as 15 jobs and would be certified by the USDA, with USDA inspectors on site.


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