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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Fuji Vegetable Oil Plans Avondale, Louisiana, Production Center

03/16/2018
Fuji Vegetable Oil, the specialty oils producer will invest $70 million to launch a new processing facility adjacent to the former Avondale Shipyard in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. Fuji plans to create 39 new jobs in the Southeastern part of the state.

Fuji Vegetable Oil is the U.S. arm of parent company Fuji Oil Group, which is headquartered in Osaka, Japan. Fuji’s new facility in Avondale primarily will import and refine palm oil from sources in the Pacific.

According to Louisiana Economic Development, the company selected Louisiana for its highly skilled workforce, proximity to new markets and strong shipping infrastructure. Access to international waters will be vital to the company’s import of raw materials and export of finished products.

“Fuji Vegetable Oil Inc. looks forward to the opening of our new facility in Jefferson Parish,” company president President Andrew Bunger said. “Fuji is known worldwide for the quality of our products. Producing to our standards demands a high-quality workforce and strong local partners. After searching along the Gulf Coast and the Eastern seaboard, we felt Jefferson Parish provided the best location and, more importantly, best partners and future employees for the continued success of our business in the U.S.”

Fuji plans to break ground on the new facility in late 2018, with hiring to begin in the following year. The company expects the new processing facility to be completed in early 2020, with commercial operations starting soon after.

As an incentive, the company will receive a $250,000 award through the state’s Economic Development Award Program, which will be used for infrastructure improvements at the site. Fuji also is expected to utilize Louisiana’s Quality Jobs and the Industrial Tax Exemption Programs.

The State of Louisiana also offered a competitive incentive package that includes the comprehensive solutions of LED FastStart – the nation’s workforce training program.

Additionally, the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission, or JEDCO, provided support by coordinating meetings with Jefferson Parish leaders and offering tax incentive guidance. JEDCO also offered space at the organization’s Conference Center to support the company’s hiring and job training activities.

“JEDCO is delighted to welcome another global food product manufacturer to our parish,” said JEDCO President & CEO Jerry Bologna. “The food cluster is a priority of the Jefferson EDGE, the economic development strategic plan for Jefferson Parish. Fuji’s decision to locate in Jefferson Parish is indicative of our success in elevating opportunities for food-related industries. Additionally, we are excited about the development of quality, high-paying jobs on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish within this targeted industry cluster.”

“Fuji Vegetable Oil’s investment in Avondale confirms Louisiana’s economic strengths,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said. “We offer an unrivaled shipping infrastructure, outstanding business resources and a highly skilled workforce. I am proud to welcome Fuji to Louisiana. This new project will diversify Louisiana’s economy, and I am confident Fuji will find success in our great state.”

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