Montgomery City and County leaders joined Gov. Kay Ivey at The Lab on Dexter on October 18th to announce a major economic development coming to the city.
Manna Beverages & Ventures plans to build a 1.7 million square foot beverage packaging facility which will be located at the Hope Hull exit on I-65. The facility will mean a $600 million investment in Montgomery and is expected to create 280 full-time jobs.
“I know Manna’s leadership will find all the ingredients they need for success in our state,” Gov. Ivey said.
This will be the company’s first facility and they say they picked Montgomery because of supply chain development and direct access to southeast markets. The beverage packaging facility will produce alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and is expected to be operational by 2025.
Manna Capital partners, Manna Beverages’ parent company, is a minority-owned business and Mayor Steven Reed highlighted this point in his remarks.
“As a community committed to closing the racial wealth gap, Montgomery is proud to partner with an entity like Manna Beverages,” Reed said.
County Commission Chairman Doug Singleton echoed Reed’s sentiment, saying the commission is “honored” to have the company in Montgomery County.
Along with packaging and distribution the facility will also include a research and development center as a place to test new products. In addition, the company says they are committed to reducing their carbon footprint and will use renewable energy when possible.
Leaders expect this facility to have a major economic impact on the area for years to come and Ivey says this announcement is “a solid sign that in the state of Alabama we’re doing things right.”
Louisville, Kentucky-based Manna Capital Partners, founded by Ulysses L. “Junior” Bridgeman and Kevin Attkisson, concentrates on investment and acquisition possibilities across multiple industries, with an emphasis on sustainability and creating opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses.
“We are excited and proud to build our facility in Montgomery with our affiliate, Manna Beverages & Ventures,” said Bridgeman, Manna Capital Partners’ managing partner. “Our goal is to be the leading total beverage supply chain company in North America while operating with the highest quality, sustainable capabilities needed to produce beverages for world-class brand owners. MB&V fills the gap for major brands who want to be asset light, nimble and make a difference in their communities by hiring minority and women-owned businesses.”
