Pine Bluff To Land New Rice Mill, 25 New Jobs
by June 2, 2014 6:40 pm 131 views
The Port of Pine Bluff will be the new home for Southwind Milling Co., a new rice mill that is planning to be in operation by February 2015.
Southwind Milling is owned by privately-held Optimum Group, which has been farming in Delta states since 2010 and now has decided to expand into milling operations.
Company officials said the cost of construction and total investment could push $15 million and create 25 new jobs initially.
Construction of the new mill will begin immediately at the Pine Bluff port and the mill will have a capacity of twelve metric tons per hour.
Southwind Milling said if initial expectations are met, it also plans to expand again at the port in the near future, doubling the capacity of this mill and building a rice flourmill. The construction of a port dock within its property would also be included in the expansion plan in order to take advantage of direct barge loading capabilities and inland waterways transportation.
The Economic Development Alliance for Jefferson County and the Pine Bluff-Jefferson County Port Authority began working with company officials in early 2013 when they first toured the port looking for a mill site.
“This has been an impressive project from the very beginning,” said Alliance President Lou Ann Nisbett, “We’ve certainly enjoyed watching it grow in scope. I’m looking forward to seeing Southwind’s new mill take shape and to all the activity it will generate at the port.”
The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) and the Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA) are jointly guaranteeing a $10 million bond issue tied to the project. ADFA is also providing a $1 million loan.