This article was originally featured in the Upson Beacon. You can view it here.
Pictured: Upson County Manager Jason Tinsley, Thomaston Assistant City Manager and Thomaston-Upson Industrial Development Authority Vice Chair Lonnie Joyce, IDA Chair Chase Fallin, IDA member Jennifer Rogers, and IDA Executive Director Slade Gulledge stand in front of recycled plastic materials with members of Brightmark at the facility in Ashley, Ind.
The Thomaston-Upson Industrial Development Authority recently led a trip to Ashley, Ind. to tour Brightmark’s Ashley Circularity Center, engaging with local leaders and gaining further insight into the company’s process, according to a statement from IDA Executive Director Slade Gulledge.
Members of the community team included Gulledge, IDA Chairman Chase Fallin, IDA Vice Chairman and Assistant City Manager Lonnie Joyce, IDA Board Member Jennifer Rogers, and Upson County Manager Jason Tinsley.
In April, Brightmark announced its intention to invest $950 million, including a 2.5 million-square-foot circularity center, in Upson.
Reflecting on the comprehensive tour of the Indiana facility and interaction with community members, the team remarked:
Confidence in Partnership with Brightmark:
“After visiting the Brightmark facility… I’m even more confident in our decision to partner with Brightmark. I’ve been in many different manufacturing facilities and Brightmark’s is truly exceptional. My two biggest takeaways were cleanliness and their focus on safety. I’m excited to see what the future holds with our new partnership.” -Fallin
Commitment to the Communities Brightmark Serves:
“After visiting the Brightmark facility… I can confidently say this is a significant achievement for our community. Having toured numerous industries across the state, I found this facility to be among the cleanest I have ever encountered. The Brightmark team’s passion for reimagining waste is evident, and they have developed systems to do so safely. Several community members expressed their appreciation for the facility’s dedication to Ashley, and the team has already demonstrated their commitment to Upson.” -Rogers
Growth and Progress:
“It was great to make a second trip to Indiana to see the continued growth and progress of the plant there. Their production has increased considerably in the past year, and it is great to see them producing quality marketable products while maintaining high safety measures. I believe in the people involved in the project and look forward to continuing to work with Brightmark to bring their amazing technology to Thomaston.” -Joyce
Emphasizing Brightmark’s Commitment to Safety:
“After a comprehensive, two-hour tour of the Brightmark Facility in Ashley, it is clear to me that their proposed facility would be an excellent addition to our Business and Technology Park. Their innovative product, rigorous operational standards, and intense commitment to safety exceed that of most companies I have seen in my career managing counties.” -Tinsley
The visit underscores the importance the T-U IDA places on bringing quality industry, but more importantly, a quality partner into their community, Gulledge stated.
The IDA is the community’s lead agency for industrial recruitment and expansion, and “we are in the business of helping business grow and thrive,” Gulledge added. TUCIDA offers a single point of contact for information, proposals, planning, and site assistance: (706) 647-7007; sgulledge@thomastonupsonida.com; Thomaston-Upson IDA thomastonupsonida.com.
