Danimer Scientific Planning $700 Million, 400 Job Expansion in Decatur County
A leading developer and manufacturer of biodegradable materials, Danimer Scientific plans to invest $700 million in expanding their Bainbridge manufacturing operations, nearly quadrupling their workforce in Decatur County.
In March, Danimer and Mars-Wrigley announced a partnership to develop an innovative home compostable packaging, with SKITTLES® as the brand’s first product to use the new packaging.
Headquartered in Bainbridge for over a decade, Danimer currently employs more than 100 people in southwest Georgia. The company’s renewable and sustainable biopolymers are used in single-use and other plastic products. These materials are biodegradable and compostable and are used by clients in industries like food packaging, bottling, and other traditional packaging sectors. Applications for Danimer’s biopolymers include additives, aqueous coatings, fibers, filaments, films, hot-melt adhesives, and injection-molded articles.
Danimer expects to construct an additional 2,000,000-square-foot facility near their current 25-acre campus, located on Industrial Boulevard in Bainbridge. The company will hire for technical positions and careers in production, maintenance, and management
Sailfish Boats Manufacturing Expands in Grady County, Creating 70 Jobs
Sailfish Boats will invest more than $1 million and increase its workforce by more than 30 percent at the company’s manufacturing headquarters in Cairo, Grady County. With an expected growth of 70 new jobs, the expansion is a result from the sharp increase in customer demand for fishing and recreational boats.
Established in 1986, Sailfish Boats produces dual and center console boats built for offshore and inshore fishing.
“For 35 years, we have called Cairo, Georgia, and Grady County home. Our growth now and throughout our history has been as a result of the hundreds of skilled, hardworking, and dedicated employees that call this area home,” says Sailfish Boats President and CEO Rob Parmentier. “Our current and forecasted growth is the result of upcoming new product introductions and development, a 35 percent increase of our distribution network, and sheer market demand for offshore/inshore fishing boats.”
The company will hire for careers in engineering as well as production areas of lamination and assembly.
Barwick Named Lowndes County Public Information Officer
Lowndes County has appointed Meghan Barwick, an experienced marketing and public relations professional, as the county’s new Public Information Officer (PIO).
As the PIO, Barwick will be responsible for managing, planning, organizing and directing the county’s information and communications programs. To ensure a positive public image of the county and the timely provision of information to citizens, Barwick will also serve as a liaison between the county and the media.
Barwick comes to the county after serving in marketing, media and public relations roles at the Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority and South Georgia Medical Center (SGMC).
With over a decade of experience, Barwick understands the value of keeping the community informed.
“We are excited to have Meghan join our fantastic team here at Lowndes County,” said County Manager Paige Dukes. “She will make a great addition within the county with her knowledge of marketing and public relations principles and practices. Making sure the community is informed and engaged is very important to us here at Lowndes County.
Turner Center Acquires Property to Build Children’s Art Museum in 2022
The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts has acquired the former Synovus Bank property near Downtown Valdosta, expanding the Center’s campus located on Webster Street, from N. Patterson Street to N. Ashley Street.
The acquisition was made possible through a donation from Dan and Carolyn Coleman, and adds three properties to the Turner Center’s campus. The expansion will allow the Center to continue its mission as the regional hub for arts education, cultural enrichment and entertainment and will provide for its continued growth.
Plans for the former bank building include enclosing the drive-through lanes to provide more interior space for the Meta Shaw Coleman Children’s Art Museum—named after Dan Coleman’s late mother. Meta Shaw Coleman was beloved by many who remember her as an early childhood educator who founded and operated a nursery school, taught at Valdosta City Schools, Valwood School and Wiregrass Technical College, and served many local organizations and boards to advance the quality of education and life in our community.
City of Valdosta launches Valdosta On-Demand Public Transit
The City of Valdosta recently launched Valdosta On-Demand, a dynamically-routed on-demand public transit service on April 27. In partnership with Via, the leader in TransitTech, Valdosta On-Demand will expand access to affordable, efficient, and convenient public transit for all riders within the city limits.
“Providing Valdosta residents public transportation has been a consistent goal of elected officials and city administration. This On-Demand service is the perfect way for us to test out a new, more flexible way for riders to make trips to the store, to school, to the doctor or other locations in the city,” says Valdosta City Manager Mark Barber. “I’m thrilled to implement this affordable and convenient transit system to our community. We hope to continue finding creative ways to reduce traffic on our roadways while also attracting new riders to this transit system.”
Using the Valdosta On-Demand mobile app anyone within the city limits, residents and workers will be able to hail a vehicle directly from their smartphone or by calling the call center at (229) 441-2940. Via’s advanced algorithms create quick and efficient trips by matching passengers and vehicles together in real time and directing riders to a nearby “virtual bus stop” for pick up and drop off. The service will offer wheelchair-accessible vehicles and offer door-to-door service for those with limited mobility.
“We believe this microtransit, on demand model is a perfect fit for Valdosta and communities similar in size. We were able to think outside the box and partner with Via, to offer this new innovative public transit solution to residents and visitors in the City of Valdosta,” says Mayor Scott James Matheson. “We hope this service will have high ridership and be a quick and efficient option for anyone in our community. What’s so great about this system and working with Via is that our on-demand service will be flexible. Overtime as we monitor ridership and common destinations, ride times, etc. we can expand and make changes to accommodate demands.”
The partnership with the City of Valdosta is Via’s first in Georgia. Via is already working with more than 200 partners in over 20 countries to help connect more people to transit, including Green Bay Metro, Columbus Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), and Sydney’s Transport for New South Wales.
Correct Craft to Open Supreme Boats Manufacturing, Create 90 Jobs
Correct Craft, a leader in building tournament inboard, freshwater fishing, utility and recreational boats, will invest more than $1.7 million in opening a manufacturing facility in Valdosta, delivering 90 jobs to Lowndes County. Correct Craft’s Valdosta facility will produce wakeboarding and wake surfing boats under its Supreme Boats brand.
Established in 1925, Correct Craft has emerged as an international leader in the marine industry and owns several watercraft and recreational sports brands, including Nautique, Centurion, Supreme, Bass Cat, Yar-Craft, SeaArk, Parker, and Bryant boat companies, Pleasurecraft Marine Engine Group, Watershed Innovation, and watersports park operation Aktion Parks.
Correct Craft’s Supreme Boats advanced manufacturing facility will open in an existing 165,000-square-foot space located at 601 Gil Harbin Industrial Boulevard in Valdosta. The company’s expansion to Georgia will bring 90 jobs to the southern region of the state, including careers in production, management, administration, and maintenance. Individuals interested in opportunities with Correct Craft are encouraged to visit careers.smartrecruiters.com/CorrectCraft/centurion-and-supreme for additional information.
Colonial Bag Company, Inc. Announce Expansion in Lake Park
Colonial Bag Company, Inc. will expand their manufacturing and warehouse/distribution facility in Lake Park, Georgia. This expansion represents a $1 million investment, creation of 10 additional new jobs.
The expansion will allow Colonial Bag Company, Inc. to expand capacity by adding a new warehouse with the purchase of over 4 acres in Lake Park Industrial Park.