With just more than a month to go before the startup of the Caesarstone manufacturing plant at the Belfast Commerce Centre in south Bryan County, officials on Tuesday announced plans to expand the facility.
The first line of the quartz countertop manufacturing facility is expected to begin operation in April followed by a second by the end of the year. Also, a second building that could house two more manufacturing lines will be built to create 130 jobs in addition to the original 180 expected to be employed at the facility.
There is no time line for the construction of this expansion, which is known by the code name “Project Honey.”
The company first announced the construction of its Bryan County facility two years ago.
“We are delighted Caesarstone has chosen to expand in Belfast Commerce Centre in Richmond Hill,” said Derrick Smith, chairman of the Development Authority of Bryan County, in a press release issued by Gov. Nathan Deal’s office. “By initiating expansion plans before even opening the facility in Bryan County, it demonstrates how strong Caesarstone’s business is and further confirms the park is a strategic location for internationally headquartered companies seeking access to U.S. markets.
Smith said the original project and the planned expansion
are the result of collaboration among the city of Richmond Hill, Bryan County Board of Commissioners and the Development Authority of Bryan County working with a private landowner, TerraPointe, to create new jobs and investment in the community.
“We also appreciate the Georgia Department of Economic Development and Georgia Power’s assistance with the projects,” Smith said.
The Bryan County facility is Caesarstone’s first outside of Israel.
Company CEO Yos Shiran, during the November 2013 groundbreaking, said the United States and North America are the fastest-growing markets for Caesarstone, and that led the company to locate a manufacturing facility in this country. After that decision was made, thorough research led them to choose Richmond Hill as the location.
“Caesarstone has continued to invest in Richmond Hill and in Georgia’s advanced manufacturing sector since it located to Georgia over a year ago,” said Chris Carr, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “This newest expansion underscores how our business ties with key international regions, coupled with one of the fastest growing ports in the U.S., can help leading companies such as Caesarstone stay competitive in the global marketplace.”
The plant is the first to be built in the Belfast Commerce Centre, located on land recently annexed into the city of Richmond Hill and developed by TerraPoint, the real estate development arm of Rayonier.