Adel-Cook County
BASF expands its facility in Cook County
BASF Site Expansion in Cook County
$70 Million, 39 Jobs
BASF recently announced the expansion of its Sparks, Cook County facility. The company is investing approximately $70 million in capital improvements to produce seed treatment formulations that will lead to 30 new full-time jobs.
According to BASF, the production investment will provide solutions for farmers while contributing to the economic development of the communities it serves.
“We will continue to help farmers and our seed company and channel partners succeed in the operations, which includes the development of our see treatment portfolio,” says Martin Horrocks, director, Seed Treatment, BASF Agricultural Solutions North America. “BASF has responded to their needs by making significant investments in production to deliver effective solutions to help farmers manage pests, disease, and produce higher yields. These investments highlight our commitment to efficiently bring seed treatment innovations to farmers to help protect their crops during the times they need it most.”
The site expansion includes a new formulation unit, lab expansion, and climate-controlled warehouse, bringing the total site assets to $200 million. READ MORE
Adel Home to New Biomass Facility
$95 Million, 60 Jobs
Renewable Biomass Group recently announced the construction of a $95 million wood pellet facility in Adel, Cook County. The Houston-based company is expected to create 60 new jobs when the plant opens in 2022. Initial production estimates include developing and exporting 450,000 metric tons of industrial wood pellets per year. The pellets will be exported from the Port of Savannah to Europe and Asia.
According to a recent industry report, the global wood pellets market is expected to reach $18.22 billion by 2027. Wood pellets are used as an alternative fuel source and are considered more eco-friendly, sustainable, and carbon-neutral in nature. The wood pellet increase is attributed to a heightened demand by large-scale manufacturing facilities in Europe.
Bainbridge-Decatur County
A-1 Roof Trusses
$17 Million Investment, 130 Jobs
Bainbridge, Decatur County will be home for A-1 Roof Trusses new 150,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. A leading manufacturer of pre-engineered wood trusses, the company plans to invest $17 million and create 130 jobs. The Bainbridge facility is the company’s first facility outside its headquarters in Fort Pierce, Florida.
“Bainbridge and Decatur County are thrilled to welcome A-1 Roof Trusses to our community,” says Keith Lyle, chairman of the Development Authority of Bainbridge and Decatur County. “Their decision to locate and invest in Bainbridge and Decatur County is further proof that our community remains an attractive location within to do business.” READ MORE
Paerosol Global Partners
$17 Million Investment, 140 Jobs
Paerosol Global Partners (PGP) recently announced plans to invest $17 million in a new facility in Bainbridge, Decatur County. A manufacturer of disinfectant solutions and spraying instruments, PGP is projected to create 140 new jobs.
Based in Florida, PGP manufactures and assembles solutions that effectively eliminate air- and surface-borne pathogens such as mold, bacteria, and viruses.
“PGP is committed to making a difference in the quality of people’s lives. We are looking forward to building our new facility in Bainbridge, Georgia. The community has welcomed us with open arms, making our decision to choose Georgia over any other part of the nation a seamless process for us,” says David Pobiak, PGP’s senior vice president of Strategic Alliances and Sales. “The professionalism, infrastructure, and cooperation we have experienced provides us the ability to create a thriving business and, in turn, contribute to this burgeoning community by way of job production and access to our technology in local schools, hospitals, and all places of gathering to help ensure safety against existing and emerging pathogens.”
The expansion will bring a variety of job options to the area, including careers in management, accounting, logistics, and production.
“Bainbridge and Decatur County are thrilled to welcome PGP our community. Their decision to locate and invest in Bainbridge and Decatur County affirm that our community is a premier location within which to do business,” says Keith Lyle, chairman of the Development Authority of Bainbridge and Decatur County. “Our world-class workforce coupled with the unwavering support of our state and local leadership make us unbeatable at attracting new business and investment.” READ MORE
Moultrie-Colquitt County
Bridging the Broadband Gap
Windstream and Colquitt EMC recently announced they will share responsibility for expanding the Kinetic fiber-optic broadband network to some of Georgia’s most rural areas over the next several years. The network expansion will give Colquitt EMC members access to Windstream’s premium Kinetic broadband service with internet speeds up to 1Gig.
“There have been a lot of discussions and expectations around the role of EMC’s in broadband. I am proud that the first partnership between an EMC and Windstream is right here in my home county of Colquitt,” says State Rep. Sam Watson of Moultrie. “Pairing the resources of these two organizations will provide first-rate broadband services to our county when they need them most.”
“This is a great day for Windstream, Colquitt EMC and Colquitt’s members,” says J Berkshire, president of Windstream Operations in Georgia. “By combining resources, our two organizations will accelerate Kinetic broadband deployment to customers in many locations in Colquitt’s service territory.”
Berkshire, says, the partnership represents an important step in Windstream’s continuing effort to expand broadband access in some of the most hard-to-reach areas of Georgia “We look forward to a long and productive relationship with the great folks at Colquitt EMC that will benefit all of our shared communities.”
“Once state law allowed EMC’s to engage in the broadband effort, Colquitt EMC recognized that a partnership is the best strategy,” says Danny Nicholls, general manager of Colquitt EMC. “We have enjoyed a positive working relationship with Windstream. Through our discussions, we have found a common goal, and we look forward to impacting our members and Windstream customers.”
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Valdosta-Lowndes County
Bates Precast Concrete
$5 Million Investment
Bates Precast Concrete, Inc. announced it will expand its footprint in Lowndes County with a capital investment of $5 million and the creation of new jobs. The company will increase its storage area to support production capacity and new product lines located in the Lake Park Industrial Park.
“I am very excited to announce this expansion of one of our great local industries. For over 34 years, Bates Precast Concrete, Inc. has continued to see growth in Valdosta-Lowndes County,” says Terri Lupo, chairman of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority Board of Directors. “Not only are they investing more capital into our community, they will grow jobs here for our residents.
Sharie Bates Elliott, CEO of Bates Precast Concrete, says, “This expansion will make it possible for Bates Precast Concrete to provide more jobs and better benefits for existing employees, as well as continuing to provide quality products for the airports, roads, schools, and backyards.”
Construction on the expansion is scheduled to begin before the end of 2020. Newly created jobs will consist of an engineer, estimator, draftsperson, sales, and production specialists. READ MORE
Orion Boatworks
$3.5 Million Investment, 120 Jobs
Orion Boatworks has selected Valdosta, Lowndes County, for its new facility. The boat manufacturer will occupy the former Regal Marine facility, located in the Azalea City Industrial Park, and will invest approximately $3.5 million and create 120 jobs.
“We are thrilled Orion Boatworks has selected Valdosta-Lowndes County as a location for their manufacturing facility,” says Terri Lupo, chairwoman of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority. “Their investment in our community is a testament to our pro-business environment, our strategic location, and our well-trained, diverse workforce. We are thankful for the teamwork and partnerships fostered to make this announcement possible.”
The Orion Boatworks team began constructing luxury yachts 17 years ago, and today, their boat collection includes coastal runabouts, custom picnic yachts, sport fishing vessels, and center consoles.
In a statement, a representative of Orion Boatworks says, “Valdosta-Lowndes County was attractive because they had an existing building which fit our business model and experienced workforce in the region made it the perfect choice. “We appreciate the support of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority and look forward to continuing a successful partnership over the coming years.”
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SGMC Partners with Mercer University to Offer Residency Programs
South Georgia Medical Center (SGMC) and Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) have formed a partnership to bring internal medicine and emergency medicine residency programs to Valdosta.
Upon approval by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the residency programs will begin in 2022.
“This partnership leverages the strengths of both organizations in developing a high-quality graduate medical education option for physicians seeking residency training in South Georgia,” says Ronald E. Dean, SGMC President and CEO. “As a teaching hospital, SGMC will couple academics with some of the best-trained medical staff, nurses and healthcare professionals within our highly capable health delivery system to advance our ability to better serve the healthcare needs of Valdosta, Lowndes County and South Georgia.”
Research shows that medical residents tend to stay close to their training site to work after they graduate. The new programs are intended to enhance recruitment and retention efforts at SGMC.
“The mission of the Mercer University School of Medicine is to educate physicians and health professionals to meet the primary care and health care needs of rural and medically underserved areas of Georgia,” says Dr. Jean Sumner, Dean of MUSM. “We are proud to partner with SGMC.”
Internal medicine and emergency residency programs last three to four years under the guidance of senior physician educators. Residents are students who have graduated from medical school and are completing additional training in their medical specialty. READ MORE
Valdosta Receives Georgia Smart Communities Challenge Grant
Georgia Tech has selected the City of Valdosta to receive a 2020 Smart Communities Challenge Grant. The award provides the city’s Traffic Management Center (TMC) with a grant to have all 128 major traffic signals equipped with smart technology, enabling the possibility of connecting all modes of travel to traffic infrastructure and one another.
The project will include installing advanced transponders in emergency response vehicles, and the downloading of smartphone apps, such as TravelSafely, to be used by Valdosta State University (VSU) students and members of the Valdosta community.
Georgia Tech researcher Baabak Ashuri and VSU researcher Barry Hojjatie will serve as co-principal investigators and collaborate with the Valdosta City Engineer Patrick Collins and the City Traffic Manager Larry Ogden on research and engineering aspects. Community and industrial partners include Southern Georgia Regional Commission, Valdosta-Lowndes Development Authority, Valdosta State University, Temple and Applied Information Inc.
“We are extremely excited and ready to get to work on the TravelSafely App in partnership with Georgia Tech and Valdosta State University,” says Valdosta City Manager Mark Barber. “This project will transform Valdosta into a smart and connected city. We are committed to creating and sustaining a smart, effective traffic control system which will result in improved traffic flow, road safety, and reduction in the number of traffic accidents.”
Georgia Tech’s Georgia Smart Communities Challenge (Georgia Smart) empowers local governments to think outside of the box and use innovation to improve their communities. READ MORE