MARTINSVILLE—The new Performance Livestock and Feed Co. production facility in Henry County will create jobs and help area grain producers as well.

“We’re hoping to open a retail station there by October of this year and have storage and the rail line by January,” said Jason Pendleton, president and owner of  the company, which is based in Lawsonville, N.C. “Hopefully, [we will be] manufacturing feed there by June 2017.”

Henry County was chosen as the feed company’s newest location due to its proximity to a rail line and easy access to public utilities. The site was originally a furniture plant that shut down in early 2000. Once repurposed, the facility will be able to store, mix and pelletize feed along with mixing custom feeds and pellets. It also will include a retail store.

“The investments made by Performance Livestock and Feed will increase feed production and create jobs and help bolster Virginia’s reputation as one of the nation’s leaders in quality and innovative livestock feed,” said Gov. Terry McAuliffe. “I applaud Performance Livestock and Feed’s commitment to growing its business here in Virginia, and I am pleased that the commonwealth could support such an entrepreneurial project. Investments like this highlight the central role agriculture plays in building the new Virginia economy.”

Not only does the new facility bring 32 new jobs to Virginia, it also will be a boon for Virginia grain producers.

“Having another destination for Virginia grain producers to sell their grain is a good thing,” said Robert Harper, manager of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation grain division. “It is good to see this type of growth moving into Virginia and this mill should make for another good market.”

Gordon Metz, a member of the VFBF board of directors and a Henry County cattleman, also is happy to see the feed mill coming to the area. “This new feed mill is certainly going to help the market and provide more opportunities to area producers. When it helps the market, it helps everyone.”

Media: Contact Harper at 804-290-1105.