Applegate Insulation to Expand, up to 40 jobs

Applegate Insulation, which is based in Michigan but has a plant in the Meadowbrook Industrial Park in Eastanollee, has made public its intent to pursue a multimillion-dollar expansion of the Stephens County facility. The expansion will involve additional equipment and manpower for the current facility, as well as the possibility of adding square footage to the building.The Stephens County Development Authority approved a bond inducement resolution of $8 million for Applegate. Through the resolution, the development authority acts as a conduit of sorts for Applegate,
“The way Georgia laws are written, and in order to receive tax abatement and other incentives, there has to a bond and title type situation,” development authority chairman Cam Parker. The county and the development authority, he said, are not liable in any way for the $8 million, and the finances are between Applegate and its investors. Applegate makes various insulation products at its facilities. It employs 22 people in Stephens County.

Randy Beckett, local general manager for the company, said the expansion in Toccoa will allow the facility to produce a new type of insulation made mainly out of recycled cotton fiber. “We plan on shipping nationwide out of Stephens County and hiring as many as 40 employees as part of that product line, so we are excited to bring employment to the county and grow our business here,” Beckett said.