Bainbridge company to invest $700M, add 400 jobs after Skittles deal
Less than two weeks after announcing a deal with a globally known candy maker, Danimer Scientific plans a $700 million, 400 job expansion of its manufacturing in southwest Georgia.
The company, based in Bainbridge, will add a 2 million-square-foot facility near its current 25-acre campus, where it now has about 100 employees, according to a joint statement by state and company officials.
Danimer, which went public in December after a merger with Live Oak, makes biodegradable materials. It said on March 16 it has a pact with Mars-Wrigley to make compostable packaging for the company’s well-known Skittles snack.
“We are in a strong position to make our vision of replacing traditional plastic with 100% renewable and biodegradable alternatives a reality,” said Stephen Croskrey, company chief executive.
Officials said Danimer will look to help in staffing from the state’s technical college system and Georgia Quick Start.
Bainbridge, with a population of nearly 13,000, sits in the center of Decatur County, which has a population of about 28,000 and an unemployment rate of 5.0%, according to the most recent government data.
The city is within an hour’s drive from Albany and Thomasville, as well as Dothan, Ala.
Danimer last year had revenues of $47.3 million, up 46% from the year before. It reported a net loss of $12.6 million.
About the Author
Michael E. Kanell, the AJC's economics writer, has been reporting on jobs, housing and the economy at the AJC for nearly two decades. He has appeared on television and radio to analyze and report on business and economic developments.
