Pod Pack International, a manufacturer of coffee and tea products for roasters and distributors in North America and Central America, has announced a $10.1 million, 75,000-sq-ft expansion at the company’s manufacturing facility in Baton Rouge.
According to the firm, the facility expansion and installation of new equipment will allow further expansion of the company’s output to meet the needs of recently secured client contracts. In 2013, Pod Pack produced approximately 100 million pods.
“We considered other alternative locations, but we are truly happy we chose Louisiana,” Tom Martin, executive vice president and COO of Pod Pack, said in a statement. “When we announced our growth plans, it was unbelievable how much encouragement we have received from the local Baton Rouge area, including the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, the Mayor’s Office and Louisiana Economic Development [LED]. Baton Rouge and Louisiana are a great place for doing business and for manufacturers to thrive.”
In addition to retaining 19 employees at the facility, the expansion will result in the creation of 19 new jobs. LED estimates the project will result in 67 new indirect jobs for a total of more than 85 new jobs in the region.
LED’s Business Expansion and Retention Group began working with Pod Pack International in February 2014 following a joint meeting held with Baton Rouge Area Chamber. To secure the expansion project, LED offered a competitive incentive package, including a performance-based $760,000 award from the Economic Development Loan Program. The company is also expected to utilize the state’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs, according to LED.