Seven Valdosta-Lowndes County Expansions Spur $28.05 Million Investment, 159 Jobs

July 13, 2015

Valdosta, Georgia – The Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority (VLCDA) continues to see the growth of Valdosta-Lowndes County businesses with expansion of existing companies driving both investment and job growth resulting in $28.05 combined capital investment and 159 direct new jobs.

Robin Hood Timber and Landscaping Products Inc. an agribusiness company with a full assortment of commodity soil, bark and cypress mulch, will expand its landscape product manufacturing operations in Lowndes County, creating more than 50 new jobs over the next few years. The production facility located at what previously was ABS Greenworld was purchased to support the company’s growing marketing and sales base in the Southeast, North Florida as well as several Northern states.

Ring Container Technologies the industry leader in the design and production of lightweight, high performance PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) and HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) containers invested $10,000,000 to install new automated equipment in 2015. Ring Container Technologies is one of the largest plastic container manufactures in North America and focuses on finding sustainable solutions for the consumer packaging industry.

Letica Corporation one of America’s largest packaging manufacturers, serving business-to-business and special project customers spanning markets from industrial and food service to entertainment and retail installed a new 1000 lbs press for manufacturing operations, creating more than 25 new jobs. Letica is a multi-faceted packaging company with diverse talent and multiple technologies such as thermoform, injection mold, paper-forming and sheet extrusion as well as with multiple mediums including paper, ridged and thinwall plastic, and reclaimed post-consumer fiber as well as other environmentally-friendly materials.

South Georgia Pecan Company the Valdosta-based family-owned leading sheller and processor of shelled pecans in the United States, will expand its operations in Valdosta with the construction of a new 74,000-square-foot expansion onto its current processing facility located on U.S. Highway 84, totaling 350,000-square-foot facility adding 20 full-time jobs. The construction is planned to be finished by the end-of-August and represents a $5,600,000 investment by South Georgia Pecan.

Rivulis Irrigation, the industry leader in drip and micro irrigation solution products to help growers better manage resources, grow more consistent crops, and increase yields Valdosta manfacturing plant added a new production line representing a $800,000 capital investment, creating more than 60 new jobs. 

“Valdosta is fortunate to be chosen as the location for these expansions and investments and we thank the companies for their continued commitment and presence in our community,” said VLCDA Board Chairman Tom Call, “We believe much of our success on these projects is due to the hard work and long hours of our staff and the assistance of our Business Retention Action Team.”

Dillards, Inc.’s Valdosta Distribution Center has installed a new Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning system representing a $750,000 capital investment at the 380,000-square-foot facility located in Azalea West Industrial Park.

Home Depot Rapid Deployment Center (RDC) located in Lake Park annually invests $5,000,000 in technology and system process improvements. The Rapid Deployment Center located in Lake Park moves the largest amount of product thru the facility out of the entire Home Depot RDC network.

About Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority

The Development Authority is an organization that oversees industrial and economic development in Valdosta and Lowndes County. In 1960 the Authority was formed as an amendment to the Georgia State Constitution. The mission of the Valdosta-Lowndes Development Authority is to create an environment to attract new industry and promote the growth of existing industry to drive job creation and capital investment.