Walmart officials along with Gov. Eric Holcomb opened their first milk processing plant for North America in Fort Wayne Wednesday, bringing more than 300 jobs to the local economy.
The 250,000-square-foot facility sits on 80 acres off Pleasant Center Road near I-469. It will employ 200 workers in the plant and more than 100 jobs for the Hoosier dairy industry. The plant will produce milk for nearly 500 stores in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky.
“This new facility is a vote of confidence in our state, in the northeast Indiana region and the Fort Wayne community,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Even more, it’s a vote of confidence in our people. Today, we celebrate 300 new jobs for talented Hoosiers. That’s great news for those employees and their families, and it’s more evidence that Indiana is on a roll with its pro-business climate and skilled workforce.”
The plant will process milk from about 30 dairy farms in Indiana and Michigan. The first shipments went out last week, with the plant expected to reach full capacity by the end of the year.
