The creation of new jobs is always a clear sign of the strength of any sector, and we are especially excited to share the news of two PBFA members creating U.S. jobs.
Greenleaf Foods, parent company of PBFA members Lightlife and Field Roast, recently announced plans to build a $310 million, 230,000-square-foot production facility in Shelbyville, Indiana. The plant will employ 460 people when fully operational in 2021, producing a whopping 60 million pounds of plant-based meats annually. Greenleaf also plans to invest an additional $26 million to increase capacity and efficiency in their existing Massachusetts and Seattle plants, which could lead to future employment opportunities as well.
The exciting announcement garnered the support of Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, who was on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony on April 8 and explained in a statement: “Today’s groundbreaking is a significant milestone for the Shelbyville community and for the state of Indiana. I’m confident that our skilled workforce will be a crucial asset, helping support Greenleaf Foods’s growth for years to come.”
Governor Holcomb at the Greenleaf Foods groundbreaking in Shelbyville, IN.
Shelbyville Mayor Tom DeBaun added: “It’s further validation that the administrations of the city of Shelbyville and Shelby County are working collaboratively to make this a great place to do business. This project diversifies our employment options locally and regionally as well as bringing tremendous opportunities to our community.”
Governor Holcomb joins the Mayor of Shelbyville Tom Debaun, and Dan Curtain, president of Greenleaf and other representatives.
According to a report in Hosier Ag Today, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) offered Greenleaf Foods up to $5 million in conditional tax credits and up to $1 million in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. This is a great example of how a local community can work to encourage and promote the plant-based foods industry, providing production incentives that will ultimately lead to Greenleaf’s foods being more widely available to consumers everywhere.
In addition to Greenleaf’s recent expansion, PBFA member Oatly, which manufactures oat-based milks and yogurts, is set to open a new production facility in Millville, New Jersey. The 19,000 square foot building will enable Oatly to increase their output tenfold. Demand for Oatly has grown so high in the U.S. there was an infamous shortage last year. We can expect that increased demand for product will lead to the generation of many more jobs as the company grows in the U.S.
We congratulate Greenleaf and Oatly on their new production facilities and look forward to shining a light on how other plant-based companies are reshaping the food economy.
All image source: Ind. Econ. Dev. Corp/Twitter