Little Leaf to Locate Facility in Manchester; Officials Tout Agriculture, $150M in Local Investment Since 2019

Local officials and a representative of Little Leaf said the company chose Manchester, in Coffee County, Tennessee, for a new production facility, calling it an example of local-agriculture-focused economic development.

"Agriculture is the number 1 driving component of Tennessee's economy," a local official said, adding that the state’s business environment helped convince Little Leaf to locate in the county. The official said, "we are so grateful Paul, to you and your team at Little Leaf to make a decision to put your company here." The same official noted that "since 2019, Governor Lee has secured more than a $150,000,000 of capital investment, creating more than 900 new jobs right here in this county ever since taking office."

Paul, a Little Leaf representative, described the company’s approach and the site-selection process. "The basic idea of delivering a fresh product that's grown locally within a region, I think, is part of the food system transformation that we're part of growing better food in a better way. And that's what Little Leaf is all about," he said. He said Little Leaf conducted a multistate site-selection process and commended Tennessee’s business ecosystem, calling it "head and shoulders above many other states."

Speakers framed the project as the result of cooperation among state and local departments and stakeholders. One speaker called the project "the best example" of departments and stakeholders working together for the benefit of Tennessee and welcomed the company to Manchester.

No formal motions, votes, or specific financial incentives or contract terms were discussed in the provided transcript excerpt. Details such as the facility’s expected opening date, the number of jobs Little Leaf expects to create at this specific site, and any incentives or funding sources for this project were not specified in the transcript.