Shamrock Farms, an Arizona-based family-owned and operated dairy company, is set to establish a new $50m dairy manufacturing plant in Augusta County, Virginia.
The new facility will manufacture extended shelf life (ESL) products such as Shamrock Farms on-the-go mmmmilk and Rockin' Refuel protein-fortified milk line. Rockin' Refuel is created to assist sports persons in muscle building and recovery.
To secure the project for the state, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Augusta County and the Shenandoah Valley Partnership.
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell said that the new dairy will create 60 new jobs in the county.
"I am confident Shamrock Farms will benefit from the skilled workforce and infrastructure available, while complementing the existing enterprise base, utilizing locally produced materials, including locally sourced milk, and helping advance the local economy," McDonnell added.
McDonnell has also approved a $250,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist Augusta County and $50,000 from the Governor's Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund.
Shamrock Foods chief executive officer Kent McClelland said, "This national expansion and increased capacity will allow us to provide more great-tasting and innovative milk products to people across the country."
Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Secretary Todd Haymore said, "Our dairy industry, which is one of the largest sectors of Virginia's diversified agricultural economy, will benefit by having another first-class, major milk processing facility located in the Commonwealth, providing more opportunities for increased production on the farm."
