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California Dairies to build $210M milk-bottling plant in Bakersfield, company and staff say
Summary
California Dairies told the Bakersfield City Council it plans an initial $210 million, 200,000-square-foot milk bottling facility at Gosford and McCutcheon, with phased expansion to about $650 million and roughly 400 jobs; the company expects first full production by December 2024, staff and the company said.
California Dairies told the Bakersfield City Council on Aug. 28 that it is building a milk-bottling plant in Bakersfield and expects to move to full production rapidly. Company representative Troy Hancock said the first phase will be about 200,000 square feet with an initial investment of roughly $210,000,000 and an initial staff of about 15 people; later phases could bring total investment to about $650,000,000 and roughly 400 employees.
Hancock said California Dairies purchased the site in June 2023 and is currently developing the project at Gosford and McCutcheon. "We are full speed moving forward to bring this site into production in December of this year," Hancock said, identifying the plant as a milk bottling operation that will produce extended-shelf-life and aseptic milk. He described the factory as "the most technologically advanced milk bottling plant in the world," and said Bakersfield offered an ample labor pool for the skilled positions the company expects to hire.
City staff and council welcomed the company's investment. Mayor Gough said the city and residents "feel fortunate to have you here" and thanked Hancock and the company for the partnership. Staff members credited the economic development office and named city staff who assisted in identifying the site and helping the company navigate the process.
The council did not take any separate formal action on incentives or approvals relating to the project at the meeting; Hancock's presentation came as part of the department update on development review. Staff said they would continue to work with the company to ensure the project proceeds through permitting and inspections under the city's standard review processes.
The council received and filed the staff update and public presentations; staff will publish training schedules and process materials related to permitting that may be used by California Dairies as it proceeds through approvals.
