©Great Lakes Cheese
Great Lakes Cheese has officially broken ground on a new 286,500 square-foot cheese packaging plant in Abilene, Texas, following an investment of $184.5 million.
The project marks an expansion to the company’s packaging operations, and joins its facilities in Ohio, New York, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.
Located in Access Business Park, the facility is expected to provide over 500 jobs in the local Abilene area.
“These job opportunities are critical for the community’s future. They truly care about their employees and this is just one more reason we are working to finalise this partnership. We look forward to officially welcoming Great Lakes Cheese to its newest home in Abilene,” said Misty Mayo, president and CEO of the Development Corporation of Abilene (DCOA).
Last month, the company received approval from Abilene’s city council for a $33.3 million incentive package. In addition, the project will receive benefits from both a Veteran’s Fund and a Texas Enterprise Fund grant.
“Great Lakes Cheese makes decisions with a long-term perspective, one that spans generations,” said Dan Zagzebski, CEO of Great Lakes Cheese.
“We are honoured to be welcomed by Texas and invited to bring our ownership culture to the Abilene community. We look forward to meeting our newest employee-owners and being another great place to work in the region.”
Great Lakes Cheese manufactures and packages natural and processed bulk, shredded and sliced cheeses for grocery stores, restaurants and foodservice distributors across the US.
Jack Rich, DCOA board chair, added: “This is a huge win for all of Abilene. The economic impact study showcases just how large and beneficial this project will be for Abilene and we are thankful for the city council’s approval of this project.
“Great Lakes Cheese is a great match for Abilene given the company’s long-standing track record of investing in thriving communities and the core values the company represents.”
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024