Written By Dominique Huff
Locust Grove wants to be known as more than just a place nestled between Atlanta and Macon.
Or an overflow destination for those enjoying the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Locust Grove seeks to be the destination open for business while honoring its hometown heritage.
Locust Grove attracts over four million visitors to the Tanger Outlets, which has evolved the economy from one centered on agriculture to one industrial, warehouse, retail, medical, and government.
Standing on the legacy of the late Mayor Robert Price, who served the city in various capacities, such as an Urban Redevelopment Agency member, city councilman, and four-term unopposed mayor from 2005 to his death on March 15, 2024, Interim Mayor Vincent Williams says his job mirrors that of what he did in the U.S. Navy.
“You don’t disrupt, you maintain. I need the ship to stay steady, not rocky,” he pointed out. “My military training allowed me to study the ship, and I shared leadership and vision skills with late Mayor Price.”
While many cities have mayors, council members, and citizens who bicker with each other, Locust Grove focuses on being proactive, listening, and responding.
“Quality of life is important, and to get it right, we must listen to citizens,” he explained.
Major Growth Happening In Locust Grove
Over the past several years, several significant projects have broken ground in the city, including Bowery Farming, NVH Korea, Ryder System, Home Depot, CarMax, and Andersen Corporation.
Andersen Corporation is one of the largest window and door manufacturers in North America, and along with its subsidiaries, operates more than 20 manufacturing and distribution facilities, with an industry-leading portfolio of window and door products serving customers across the new residential, light commercial, home improvement, and remodeling segments. Renewal by Andersen plans to invest more than $420 million in this new facility. Construction of the 638,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility is expected to be completed in late 2024, with operations scheduled to begin in 2025. The facility will employ approximately 900 team members when running at total capacity.
The products manufactured at the Locust Grove facility will use Andersen's unique Fibrex material. Fibrex material is a high-quality, long-lasting engineered composite that garnered more than 25 United States patents over time and has become a different and better material used in numerous Andersen and Renewal by Andersen product lines. The material contains a blend of wood fiber, mostly reclaimed from Andersen manufacturing processes, and thermoplastic polymer, some of which is also recycled.
The new Renewal by Andersen facility, which will be its first manufacturing facility in Georgia, is being built at The Cubes at Locust Grove.
"We are thrilled to be investing in a facility that will help us meet homeowner demand for our Renewal by Andersen® products and expand our footprint further into the southeast," said Chris Galvin, Andersen Corporation president and chief executive officer. "Here in Locust Grove, Renewal by Andersen is building both a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and a place where individuals across a wide range of skill sets can build meaningful careers. We are grateful for the support and warm welcome from the State of Georgia, Henry County, and the City of Locust Grove, and we look forward to growing in this community."
Bowery Farming opened an innovative indoor vertical farm in Locust Grove, creating over 100 green jobs in Henry County. Bowery Farming provides leafy greens and herbs to over 800 U.S. grocery stores and major e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, Walmart, Whole Foods Market, Albertsons, and more.
“Our smart indoor farm in Locust Grove will showcase Bowery’s technology leadership and innovation from seed to shelf. It’s a significant step in addressing the critical challenges of the current agricultural system and working toward wider access to fresh, local pesticide-free produce, year-round,” Irving Fain, CEO and Founder of Bowery Farming, said.
By strategically expanding to Henry County, the company will provide locally grown produce to a population of 20 million people within a 200-mile radius of its new state-of-the-art farm. Committed to sustainability, Bowery’s farms are powered 100 percent by energy from renewable sources and grow local, pesticide-free, protected produce. Additionally, Bowery’s smart indoor farms grow crops 365 days a year, regardless of weather conditions.
NVH Korea is an automotive parts manufacturer specializing in automotive noise, vibration, and heat-control parts. It currently produces these parts in Korea, Europe, and India. The company also operates a manufacturing facility in Georgia that produces floor mats, cargo mats, and cargo trays. The new facility will supply battery parts for electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States for manufacturers such as Hyundai Mobis, Kia Georgia, and Hyundai Motor Group.
“We are pleased to announce that we have chosen the State of Georgia as our company’s first EV battery component manufacturing site. Cooperation between state agencies and our company staff has helped guide us throughout this project,” Ja Kyum Koo, Chairman and CEO of NVH Korea, said. “It is the first step of our company’s effort to contribute to the electrification of the mobility industry, and we look forward to joining the community of Locust Grove and Henry County.”
NVH Korea’s new facility will be at Gardner Logistics Park on Colvin Drive in Locust Grove. It will produce the EV battery system components that protect, connect and sense battery cell performance. Operations are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2024.
Williams says more development is coming, but it will be smart and sustainable growth while ensuring residents' quality of life is preserved, enhanced, and protected.
“Our warehouses are on the city's north side, and that is the only place they will go. The city's southside is where we live and play,” he said. “These companies are helping us keep the tax burden low for our residents, allowing us to invest in ourselves and make ourselves a competitive city.”
Growth Was Planned and Targeted
Locust Grove took advantage of many tools in their economic development toolbox, like R.U.R.A.L (Revitalizing Underdeveloped Rural Area Legislation) designed for cities with a population of less than 15,000 with a concentrated core of historic commercial structures and demonstrated blight and disinvestment downtown areas.
Of course, Downtown Locust Grove is not being overlooked or forgotten as the Main Street program, established in 2006, has developed a sense of place and pride in the area to include concert series, holiday art, facade grants for downtown businesses, and a downtown development authority. Williams says the city recently purchased 10 acres in the area for investment.
“This is going to be a game-changer for us. We have 10 acres that we can master plan and create an anchor to bring more life into downtown,” he said. “Think about going downtown for coffee with your laptop, a place for your children and grandchildren; we are thinking big.”
With the Locust Grove North Community Improvement District, the first of its kind in Henry County, businesses are taxing themselves to help stimulate their operations, attract complementary development, and create amenities such as better roads for residents.
“They spent $11 million to build out Price Road and will donate it back to the city. We are trying to make traveling around Locust Grove accessible for businesses and residents,” he said. “We also want businesses and developers who not only will build here but will enhance and reinvest into themselves to keep up their standards and quality.”
One tool for growth is Interstate 75 and the building around Tanger Outlets.
“This is our hotel district, which benefits Tanger and the Atlanta Motor Speedway and for those weary travelers who need a place to rest and eat,” he said. “Money gets off the interstate and stays here.”
Enhancing Amenities For Residents
The city is working on a trail network for residents to get out and walk around the city for exercise, running errands, and meeting each other. On Memorial Day this year, the city opened the Veterans Memorial with a Memorial Scatter Garden. Individuals can come and pay tribute while relaxing to veterans who served the country and even leave behind their ashes in scattered areas.
“To be honest, we should have long had something like this; we are full of veterans in the city. Our beloved late mayor and city council set this vision into place,” he explained.
Locust Grove Day is another component that creates buzz and excitement for the city. Back in April, it featured a parade, festival, street dancing, and fireworks. Residents and visitors celebrated the city with events at the city hall and Claude Gray Park.
Williams is excited about the future, and with the active and engaged residents, city council, and city administration, the best is yet to come.
“We want to keep our habitat in place, but we must make it where people want to live, work, and play in Locust Grove. I see us keeping our fabric and developing,” he concluded. “We have a business, industry, and hometown feeling.”
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