Roswell, N.M. – Today, the Economic Development Department announced that Leprino Foods Company will invest over $15 million to expand their Chaves County manufacturing facility, add five new jobs, and commit to retaining a minimum of 552 jobs on site. New Mexico's closing fund, LEDA, will support Leprino Foods's expansion and the construction of a refrigerated/freezer warehouse.
"This is great news for New Mexico and another example of what's possible when businesses know they're welcome here," Economic Development Secretary Matt Geisel said. "We've enacted business-friendly policies and expanded our economic development tools to help industry leaders, like Leprino Foods, find success in New Mexico."
New Mexico will provide up to $200,000 for Leprino's expansion through the state's closing fund, known as LEDA. Chaves County will act as the fiscal agent for the LEDA award. LEDA helps recruit new businesses to our state while helping those that are already here grow and thrive. Nearly zeroed out when Governor Martinez took office, she fought to grow this important tool to more than $56 million.
"Roswell has been an ideal location for our production for the past three decades, providing both a thriving community for our employees to live and work and close proximity to the dedicated farmers who supply the high-quality milk that is the chief ingredient in our products," Robert Tuttrup, V.P. and General Manager, Roswell Plant, said. "We value our partnership with the state of New Mexico and are very appreciative of their investment in support of our expansion."
Leprino Foods is the largest private sector employer in Chaves County producing dairy-based products, including mozzarella cheese, whey protein, lactose and more.
Since 2011, Governor Martinez has bolstered economic development tools, cut taxes and fees 57 times, and rolled back unnecessary regulations and red tape to create a business-friendly environment in New Mexico. Governor Martinez also established the Catalyst Fund, a $40 million partnership with the State Investment Council that focuses on helping homegrown New Mexico technology startups grow and thrive. As a result of these tools, reforms, and investments, New Mexico continues to recruit global and national companies like Facebook, Keter Plastic, Safelite and others, while helping homegrown businesses like Wholesome Valley Foods, USA Beef, Descartes Labs, RiskSense and others grow and thrive as well.
About Leprino Foods Company:
Leprino Foods Company, headquartered in Denver, Colo., is a global leader in the production of premium-quality cheese and dairy ingredients. Leprino Foods is the largest producer of mozzarella cheese in the world and a leading manufacturer of lactose, whey protein and sweet whey. For more information, please visit www.leprinofoods.com.
Source: Leprino Foods Company