Hamilton, Mont.-based controlled environment agriculture company Local Bounti is launching construction of a high-tech indoor facility in Mount Pleasant, Texas.
To kick off the project, state and local leaders will join Local Bounti for a groundbreaking ceremony at the site on Jan. 4, 2023, according to a news release.
Following the groundbreaking, Local Bounti will begin construction of a 6-acre facility to grow and sell its indoor-grown line of packaged leafy greens. Varieties include spring mix, butter lettuce, romaine crisp, green leaf and additional blends. The facility is slated for completion in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to the release.
“Mount Pleasant is thrilled to welcome Local Bounti to the region,” Nathan Tafoya, executive director of the Mount Pleasant Economic Development Corporation, said in the release. “With its innovative and proprietary CEA approach, Local Bounti adds a much-desired agri-tech ingredient to Mount Pleasant’s rich history in food production. We’ve already begun integrating workforce training and partnership conversations with our college’s ag program. As Local Bounti’s chosen Texas location for an investment, and multiple planned phases, Mount Pleasant looks forward to growing with Local Bounti for many years to come.”
Related news: 2022 Year in Produce: Controlled Environment Agriculture, or CEA
The addition of the new facility in northeast Texas is expected to fortify Local Bounti’s distribution in markets across Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri. Further, the facility is designed to provide additional capacity to meet existing demand from Local Bounti’s direct relationships with blue-chip retailers and distributors throughout the region, according to the release.
“Local Bounti is excited to call Mount Pleasant home to our latest facility in a rapidly expanding national footprint. Future local operations will help us answer existing customer demand within the Lone Star State and adjacent markets,” Craig Hurlbert, co-founder and co-CEO of Local Bounti, said in the release.
The construction phase of the facility will begin immediately and is expected to generate approximately 50 jobs in Mount Pleasant, Texas. Once the facility is operational in the fourth quarter of 2023, Local Bounti expects to generate approximately 200 direct and indirect jobs in Titus County, according to the release.
