East Jordan Plastics Investing $44 Million in Toombs County
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Members of the community gathered in Lyons on Thursday for the announcement that a new industry, East Jordan Plastics, is putting down roots at the Toombs Corporate Center. East Jordan Plastics, one of the largest horticulture container manufacturers in North America, will invest $44 million in its new Lyons facility. The business will inhabit one of the vacant spec buildings at the corporate Center on U.S. Highway 1. The Michigan- continued from page
based industry will also provide the area with 80 new jobs.
Toombs County Development Authority Chairman Garrett Wilcox introduced the East Jordan Plastics representatives and informed attendees of the announcement event that the business not only plans to take residency in the vacant spec facility, but will also expand the location.
“We are delighted East Jordan Plastics has decided to put down roots and grow with us here in Toombs County,” Wilcox emphasized. “This project is a great fit for our community. We look forward to a successful partnership.”
East Jordan Plastics President Scott Diller also commented on this investment. Diller shared he had traveled to Lyons with his brothers, East Jordan Plastics Vice Presidents Matt and Nathan Diller, as well as Senior Engineer Mark Lercel and Chief Financial Officer Pete Byron.
“We are thrilled to be here,” Scott Diller remarked. “East Jordan Plastics has been in business for 75 years – [this business] was started by my grandparents. Seventy-five years ago, they were not making horticultural containers out of plastic; it started out in a sawmill making pots continued from page
out of cedar.” He continued to explain what the business had transformed to and the specialties of the three other locations of the industry: East Jordan – Corporate Headquarters, Trays, etc.; Beaverton Facility – Pots and Pot Decoration; South Haven Facility – Recycling, Injection Molding, etc.
“We are pretty proud of our business because not only is it focused on manufacturing, but each year, we are taking at least 20 million pounds of used horticultural containers and recycling them, and putting them back in horticultural containers,” he explained. “The next step in that phase will be Toombs County, Vidalia, and Lyons. We hope to double that, and be able to use around 40 million pounds of recycled plastic.” He added, “East Jordan is a small town. Beaverton is a small town. South Haven is similar in size to these towns, so I think it is going to be a good fit for the company.” Toombs County Commission Chairman David Sikes shared his sentiments. “We are so thankful you guys are here. We’re proud of you, we’re proud for you – but we are ecstatic for ourselves. I am very thankful for you guys choosing to invest in our community. On behalf of Toombs County Commissioners, welcome.”
Lyons Mayor Willis NeSmith also addressed the investors. “We do thank y’all for investing in our community,” he said. “You see this big group we have here: we are a big partnership, we are a great partnership. We have been working very hard at it for a long time. You are going to be a part of that partnership.”
He continued, “You say you come from small towns – that’s great, because you see we are a small town, and you all are going to fit right in with us. We look forward to a long and prosperous future with you all. Anything we can do for you all, know we are always here for you.”
Greater Vidalia Chamber Chairman John Koon spoke to the Diller brothers. “Dillers, thank you for your investment in our community. We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship. If there is anything we can do as a Chamber [for you all], please feel free to knock on our door. We are so thankful that you have decided to come here and be a part of this community, and we cannot wait to see what the future holds.” Governor Brian Kemp also issued a statement on the project, with which the Department of Economic Development assisted. “We’ve been laser-focused on producing good jobs in rural Georgia, and East Jordan Plastics will be met with eager, hardworking Georgians in Toombs County to serve their rapidly-growing customer base,' he said. The new 255,500-square-foot facility will open for logistics and distribution for the first year, but will continue to develop the space for recycling and manufacturing operations over the next five years. Employees will be hired throughout the growth, with warehouse distribution positions being filled first, and plastic recycling and manufacturing workers to be hired later.
