b'ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT$700 MILLION INVESTMENT the Meta Shaw Coleman Childrens Art Museumnamed after Dan 400 Colemans 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 NEW JOBS School and Wiregrass Technical College, and served many local organizations and boards to advance the quality of education and life A leading developer and manufacturer of biodegradable materials, Danimerin our community.Scientific plans to invest $700 million in expanding their Bainbridge manufacturing operations, nearly quadrupling their workforce in DecaturSailfish BoatsThe Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts has County. In March, Danimer and Mars-Wrigley announced a partnership to develop anManufacturingacquired the former Synovus Bank property near Downtown Valdosta, expanding the Centers campus innovative home compostable packaging, with SKITTLES as the brands firstExpands in Gradylocated on Webster Street, from N. Patterson Street to N.SUBMIT product to use the new packaging. County Ashley Street. INFORMATIONHeadquartered in Bainbridge for over a decade, Danimer currently employsThe acquisition was made possible through a donation more than 100 people in southwest Georgia. The companys renewable andSailfish Boats will invest more than $1 millionfrom Dan and Carolyn Coleman, and adds threeThe Moving Forward section includes job sustainable biopolymers are used in single-use and other plastic products.and increase its workforce by more than 30properties to the Turner Centers campus.The expansionannouncements, promotions, new or expanding These materials are biodegradable and compostable and are used by clientspercent at the companys manufacturingwill allow the Center to continue its mission as thecompanies, corporate awards, and community in industries like food packaging, bottling, and other traditional packagingheadquarters in Cairo, Grady County.regional hub for arts education, cultural enrichment andand professional recognitions. Submit sectors. Applications for Danimers biopolymers include additives, aqueousWith an expected growth of 70 new jobs,entertainment and will provide for its continued growth. information and photos to editor@sgamag.comcoatings, fibers, filaments, films, hot-melt adhesives, and injection-moldedthe expansion is a result from the sharp articles. increase in customer demand for fishing andPlans for the former bank building include enclosing the recreational boats.drive-through lanes to provide more interior space for Danimer expects to construct an additional 2,000,000-square-foot facility near their current 25-acre campus, located on Industrial Boulevard inEstablished in 1986, Sailfish Boats produces Bainbridge. The company will hire for technical positions and careers indual and center console boats built for production, maintenance, and management.offshore and inshore fishing. For 35 years, we have called Cairo, Georgia,Barwick Named Lowndes Countyand Grady County home. Our growthPublic Information Officernow and throughout our history has been as a result of the hundreds of skilled,Lowndes County has appointed Meghan Barwick, an experienced marketing and hardworking, and dedicated employeespublic relations professional, as the countys new Public Information Officer (PIO).that call this area home, says Sailfish Boats President and CEO Rob Parmentier. OurAs the PIO, Barwick will be responsible for managing, planning, organizing and current and forecasted growth is the resultdirecting the countys information and communications programs. To ensure a of upcoming new product introductionspositive public image of the county and the timely provision of information to and development, a 35 percent increase ofcitizens, Barwick will also serve as a liaison between the county and the media.our distribution network, and sheer marketBarwick comes to the county after serving in marketing, media and public relations demand for offshore/inshore fishing boats. roles at the Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority and South Georgia Medical Center (SGMC).The company will hire for careers in engineering as well as production areas ofWith over a decade of experience, Barwick understands the value of keeping the lamination and assembly.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 70 NEW JOBS addition within the county with her knowledge of marketing and public relations CREATED principles and practices. Making sure the community is informed and engaged is very important to us here at Lowndes County.54 SG MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021 BUSINESS + CULTURE55'