Lowe's to Expand Distribution Center in Valdosta

Company to invest over $20 million, create 100 jobs

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that Lowe's Companies, Inc. is expanding its regional distribution center in Valdosta , Georgia , investing a minimum of $20 million in the facility and creating over 100 jobs.  The distribution center currently employs approximately 800 people.

“We are very pleased that Georgia has the kind of business-friendly environment that encouraged Lowe's to grow its investment here,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  “Business expansions are a major source of economic development, and we will continue to promote them as well as recruit new industries to the state.”

Lowe's 770,000 square-foot Valdosta regional distribution center opened in 1996.  It supplies products to more than 100 Lowe's stores in Georgia , Alabama , Mississippi and Louisiana and is the main staging area for re-supplying Lowe's stores in the region impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

The expansion includes an addition of 350,000 square feet to the existing facility and a new stand-alone structure totaling 210,000 square feet.  It will continue to meet the company's growing store base in the Southeast by allowing the distribution center to handle additional inventory, including major appliances.

“Lowe's Valdosta distribution center has played a key role in the past nine years in getting our Southeast customers the products they want, when they want them, at everyday low prices,” said Mike Mabry, Lowe's executive vice president of logistics and distribution. “Because of the great workforce in the Valdosta area, we're pleased to be able to create more jobs and enhance our investment in the state.” 

Lowe's traditional “board-cutting” to announce the expansion was held at the Valdosta plant and was attended by Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Craig Lesser, State Senator Tim Golden, Lowe's Vice President of Distribution Steve Szilagyi, City of Valdosta Mayor John Fretti, Crawford Powell, chairman of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority and other local officials.

“Lowe's has always been one of our top corporate citizens and partners,” said Mayor Fretti.  “We are very pleased for the expansion—not only for the increase in jobs, but for the sustainability of the current employment base that they provide.  We look forward to the continuing partnership.”

“We applaud Lowe's for capitalizing on the vitality of South Georgia 's economy and workforce,” stated Commissioner Craig Lesser.  “It's certainly a dynamic area of the state, in large part thanks to companies like Lowe's that have chosen to locate and expand their investments here.”

Construction on the expansion began this month and is expected to be completed by spring 2006.  Lowe's nationwide distribution network includes 11 regional distribution centers.

With fiscal year 2004 sales of $36.5 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 50 company that serves approximately 11 million customers a week at more than 1,125 home improvement stores in 49 states.  Based in Mooresville , N.C. , the 59-year old company is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world.  For more information, visit www.lowes.com .