This week brought great news for Georgia's economy as Trident Seafoods announced its arrival in the state. The Seattle-based company, which is North America's biggest seafood harvester and processor, said on Wednesday that it would open a plant in Carrollton, bringing 175 jobs to the people of Carroll County, the Times-Georgian reported.
The $41 million investment will go into the conversion of the building off Columbia Drive at 100 Performance Way in the West Georgia Industrial Park. The property was previously owned by Chiquita and covers an areas of 104,000 sq ft. The facility houses cold storage premises and ripening chambers for perishables. Trident's plan includes the addition of 43,000 sq ft to the building. The new plant is expected to start operating in the final quarter of 2014, with hiring set to start in the middle of next year.
According to Governor Nathan Deal, Georgia is an obvious destination for Trident in the expansion of its East Coast operations. Trucks can reach 80% of U.S. markets in two days thanks to the state's highway system. Georgia also boasts a highly trained workforce, which will be of great benefit for Trident as it pursues its business goals, Deal added.
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Trident executive VP Joe Bundrant said that the company was delighted to be joining the Carrollton community and was hoping to build a long and mutually beneficial relationship with local citizens. Trident is a family-owned enterprise and feels welcome here, he added. Similar sentiments were expressed by Carrollton Mayor Wayne Garner, who said that everybody was excited and looking forward to reaping the rewards of a project that had taken lots of hard work. Garner also pointed out that the announcement was an encouraging sign of a turning economic tide. He said that it signals the start of a revival in Carrollton and the efforts made by the city during the past eight years are beginning to pay off. These efforts include the city center regeneration campaign, the start of work on the GreenBelt and the elimination of water issues.
Trident's announcement was labeled as "tremendous news" by Brian Dill, vice-president of economic development and global commerce for Carroll Tomorrow. Dill applauded county and city leaders for their tireless efforts to bring the project to fruition. Carroll Tomorrow first started work on it in November 2010 and everything has finally come together thanks to the aggressive and proactive participation of local leaders. In addition to creating jobs and bringing investment to the area, the Trident project is also testament to the qualities of local leadership and its key role in promoting economic growth, Dill said.
Trident has been in business since 1973. The vertically integrated company supplies retail and foodservice operators with a variety of fish and shellfish products, among them wild Alaska salmon, cod, crab and pollock. Trident conducts its operations through a fleet comprising over 30 vessels and onshore facilities spread across the coastal area from Oregon to Alaska.
