In Concordia Parish, an Australian-based manufacturing plant is about to move in. Syrah Resources is the company and they have selected Vidalia to open a $25 million graphite processing plant.

The facility will produce products that are used in commercial and automotive batteries, Mayor Buz Craft says they are excited over the 25 new jobs that will go along with the plant opening.

“It’s a good day for Vidalia. Anytime you have, especially a new technology come into our state and also for them to choose us, we feel like that we are very blessed and we’re very proud to have them.”

A 50,000-square foot building is available for Syrah and the average annual salary will be $60,000, according to Craft. He says the entire parish will be affected.

“Because we feel like we have a lot to offer here at Vidalia. I think that it’s going to be a spring board for other businesses to start noticing Vidalia, Louisiana and this area and this region.”

With many large metropolitan areas converting their old diesel buses to clean electric or natural gas propulsion, the product produced at the Vidalia plant will be in high demand for years to come.

“This is something that, you know, is an energy of the future and they’re going to be starting right here in Vidalia on making the material to put in these batteries right here, so it’s exciting.”

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