Walmart to build dairy plant in Valdosta, create 400 jobs
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By Dave Williams, Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA — Walmart will build a food processing facility in Valdosta, a $350 million investment expected to create almost 400 jobs, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Wednesday.
The Valdosta dairy plant will provide milk to more than 750 Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs in south Georgia.
“We’re excited that Walmart will soon tap into Georgia’s No. 1 industry and open new opportunities in the Lowndes County area,” Kemp said. “We look forward to many years of success as this project further strengthens our thriving agriculture industry.”
The new facility will provide fresh dairy products using ingredients sourced from local farmers. Operations are due to begin in late 2025.
Walmart will fill positions in production, engineering, quality, food safety, warehouse operations, maintenance and driving.
“This new, state-of-the-art facility will not only bring jobs and opportunity to the Valdosta area,” Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper said. “It will enable our dairy farmers to produce more goods from start to finish right here in Georgia — sending a larger share of the retail dollar back to the family farm.”
The state Department of Economic Development’s Global Commerce team worked on the project in partnership with the Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority, the city of Valdosta, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Power, and the Technical College System of Georgia’s Quick Start program.
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