The Alabama Department of Commerce reported this week that Koch Foods Inc., one of the nation’s largest poultry producers, is investing nearly $40.5 million to build a feed mill in Randolph County that will produce prepared feeds and feeding ingredients to support the growth of a processing plant in nearby Pine Mountain, Ga.

Marilyn Lott, executive director of the Randolph County Economic Development Authority (RCEDA), said Koch Foods will hire 27 full-time employees, plus an additional 19 truck drivers, generating a total annual payroll of nearly $2 million.

“Koch Foods’ decision to locate their world-class facility here is great news for Randolph County,” she said.

RCEDA projects that the new feed mill in Roanoke will spur the development of up to 190 new growing houses as farmers will develop new houses along a line running from the feed mill to the processing plant. Each facility is estimated to cost $500,000 to construct, resulting in $95 million of capital spending, along with new jobs and new property and sales taxes injected into the local economy, RCEDA noted.

“Our plans to build a state-of-the-art feed mill in Roanoke will allow for a more efficient live operation that is necessary in today’s extremely competitive environment,” Koch Foods chief operating officer Mark Kaminsky said.

With the right facilities,such as this feed mill, in place, Kaminsky said Koch Foods will not only remain competitive but will look to expand in the area. “We appreciate all the support this project has received,” he added.