Deere & Company, the global corporation that manufactures the iconic John Deere brand of agricultural, construction and forestry equipment, plans to expand operations at its facility in Thibodaux, Louisiana. The $29.8 million project is expected to create 70 jobs.

The investment will involve the development and installation of a new production line and upgraded equipment, which will allow the location to begin producing medium-chassis cotton harvesting models that will replace existing models currently built in China. Production will begin within the next two years and reach full capacity by 2025.

“The new cotton harvesters present a huge opportunity for John Deere Thibodaux to deliver innovative and technologically advanced solutions to our customers, which will increase their productivity and profitability,” said Mike Duplantis, factory manager at John Deere Thibodaux. “This expansion is possible due to the tremendous amount of hard work and resiliency of the Thibodaux team.”

To secure the project, the state offered Deere a competitive incentive package including a performance-based retention and modernization grant of up to $1 million, and the services of LED FastStart, Louisiana’s nationally acclaimed recruitment, customized training and workforce development program. The company is also expected to participate in the Industrial Tax Exemption and Enterprise Zone programs.

“This investment by Deere & Company demonstrates not only the strength of Louisiana’s manufacturing sector, but the resilience and recovery of the Bayou Region,” Governor John Bel Edwards noted. “Manufacturing has long played a vital role in Louisiana’s economy and never more so than today, supporting more than 178,000 Louisiana workers and their families through ongoing investments in every region of the state. Thanks to Deere & Company for its commitment to Lafourche Parish, and congratulations to the skilled workers whose dedication convinced this global manufacturer to expand its footprint in our state.”

The Thibodaux site currently serves as a design center for sugar harvesting and earthmoving scraper equipment as well as a manufacturing facility for a variety of agriculture and construction products.