MONTEZUMA, Ga. — FreshRealm — a fresh food delivery company — is investing $6.3 million in Macon County. Gov. Brian Kemp says the company will expand their current plant in Montezuma, which will add about 300 new jobs.
And for local businesses in the county of just under 12,000 residents, they are excited about what FreshRealm's expansion could mean for the local economy.
Sharon Williams Oglesby co-owns Josie Restaurant in Montezuma. Oglesby says her mother opened the business in 1974. The popular restaurant cooks food like ranch chicken, steamed cabbage, and homemade banana pudding.
"We've been doing and cooking the same way my mother did back in the seventies," Oglesby said.
With FreshRealm expanding, Oglesby says more jobs means more customers.
"It would be really good for business, you know? Could possibly hire more people and it would just be good for the county all around," Oglesby said.
Don Lamberth with Macon County's development authority says their county's population has dropped and new jobs will be a boost.
"Medium salary around $45,000 - $48,000, which would be a big economic impact to us. Like most rural communities, we've been losing population. Young people are leaving, and this will be an opportunity for them to come back," Lamberth said.
Lamberth says that a job opportunity like this, this will attract people to come and see the sights of Montezuma.
"You got Andersonville and of course, a nature preserve just north of Montezuma, got a great Flint river — a great tourism prospect," Lamberth said.
Brooks says he grew up in Montezuma and Macon County has a history of farming. He hopes younger adults will work in Montezuma and call it home.
"Back in my younger days, we had Southern Frozen Food out here, which was obviously a Southern frozen food industry and it's gone by like some of the other companies by the wayside. And a lot of folks have moved away from Macon County," Brooke said. "We need our home folks back."
FreshRealm produces ready-to-heat and ready-to-cook meals and meal kits. They're based on Airport Road in Montezuma. The company plans to start hiring on Oct. 21.
They're not the first major business to announce investment in Central Georgia.
In May, First Quality Baby Products announced their expansion near the Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Bibb County, bringing 600 new jobs.
Last year, we reported Pratt Industries, a packing company, invested more than $120 million in Warner Robins.