That’s the meaning of Kellogg’s additional $35 million investment here, and the reason the Rome-Floyd County Development Authority issued the necessary bonds (meaning the company gets a better interest rate) plus “forgave” property taxes on the added value for the next 10 years.
Kellogg’s volunteered to continue to pay school property taxes, a recognition that education is a corporate investment in the workforce of the future).
The money will go to automating two of the Rice Krispies Treats production lines at the Old Lindale Road facility plus adding a third. It takes no mathematician to see this indicates an output increase of at least 50 percent, which must mean this snack item is selling even better than the proverbial hotcakes.
THIS WILL BE achieved without having to increase the current workforce of 600-650, which is the very definition of the economic statistic referred to as “worker productivity,” of which more is considered better. It also adds great stability to the jobs that are already there, very much a benefit to the community given the regular flight of some existing American industry to faraway places with strange sounding names ... and low wages.
It often surprises visitors to learn that Greater Rome, known as a medical and educational center, is also a significant location for manufacturing. That it helps feed the nation is usually even more of a surprise, and particularly so when it comes to baked goods (Kellogg, Southeastern Mills, Sara Lee).
This is not the first time that the plant has expanded since Kellogg bought it in 2001 when it was Mondo Baking. That’s also a positive sign.
It appears that Snap, Crackle and Pop as well as the Keebler Elves have decided to settle in Rome
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