VALDOSTA — Multinational retailer Walmart announced Wednesday that it will build a milk processing facility in Valdosta.

The announcement was made by the company and by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp shortly before the Valdosta-Lowndes County Economic Development Authority met to approve the memorandum agreement with Kingfisher Holdings LLC to make the new facility happen.

The facility will be built on Inner Perimeter Road. Officials predicted the construction will create more than 3,800 jobs and the facility itself will employ almost 400 people.

Adam Bradley, the senior director of Business Development at Walmart Manufacturing, told Wednesday’s EDA meeting that he and his team visited local farms Tuesday and Wednesday morning sharing the plans of the facility. He said the farmers were excited that they will now have options as to where their milk will go.

“Walmart is excited to be here,” Bradley said. “This has been a long time coming. It’s nice to get it out in the open. Your team here has been rock stars working with the local community. You’ll love the product coming out of the plant. It’s going to be a class one fluid milk facility. We will process products for both Walmart and Sam’s Club so the Walmart Great Value label and Member’s Mark labels. You’ll really appreciate the quality of the milk coming through here.”

He was accompanied by Glen Wilkins, the senior manager of Public Affairs and Government Relations for the Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; Greg Nunn, the director of Indirect Tax at Walmart, and Andrew Egan with Kutak Rock.

The facility’s groundbreaking is tentatively planned for November followed by the opening in late 2025. Walmart will be hiring for positions in production, engineering, quality, food safety, warehouse operations, maintenance and drivers.

“There’ll be a lot of jobs in this plant. It’s also highly automated. We’ve got robotics that’ll be in this building,” Bradley said.

The dairy facility will be located on Inner Perimeter Road creating almost 400 new jobs and $350 million in investment in Lowndes County. The average wage for the project and the facility is approximately $30 per hour, according to EDA Executive Director Andrea Schruijer.

“Valdosta-Lowndes County is a prime location for Walmart Manufacturing Dairy Facility because of Georgia’s strong agriculture community. They will be able to source their Walmart materials within our region. Projects like this add quality jobs, capital investment and add to our economy and that’s why we (the Valdosta-Lowndes County Economic Development Authority) exist,” Schruijer said following the meeting.

She said this project will affect Valdosta-Lowndes County’s economy in two forms. The construction phase is expected to create 3,878 jobs with a total of $550 million economic impact.

About 838 new jobs will be created at the facility following its opening, Schruijer said. That includes the 390 jobs at the plant plus any direct or indirect jobs that they would create, she explained. It will result in a total $373 million economic impact.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp shared comments in a press release announcement early Wednesday morning.

“We’re excited that Walmart will soon tap into Georgia’s No. 1 industry and open new opportunities for farmers in the Lowndes County area,” he said. “Congratulations to all those on the local and state level whose hard work made this announcement possible. We look forward to many years of success as this project further strengthens our thriving agriculture industry.”

City of Valdosta and Lowndes County government officials were also present for Wednesday’s EDA meeting.

Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson said, “We are proud that Walmart has selected Valdosta as the home of its new food production facility. This project demonstrates the economic strength of Valdosta and Lowndes County, and it will provide tremendous job opportunities for our community and the entire South Georgia region.”

“Lowndes County is thrilled that Walmart has announced they’re building a new state of the art facility in our community,” Chairman Bill Slaughter, Lowndes County Board of Commissioners said. “This exciting opportunity will not only bring new jobs and investment to our community, but it will also stimulate growth and innovation throughout the region. We look forward to partnering with this dynamic company to build a better future for all who call Lowndes County home.”