Brazil’s Grupo Vialume to invest $4.4M, bring 150 jobs to Colquitt-Miller County

A São Paulo company plans to invest $4.4 million to establish its manufacturing operations in Colquitt-Miller County.

Grupo Vialume, a family-owned transportation safety manufacturer, will create 150 new jobs over the next seven years at its new manufacturing and recycling hub in the City of Colquitt, according to a news release.

“We are excited to welcome Grupo Vialume to Georgia after meeting with them in Brazil over the summer,” said Gov. Brian Kemp in the news release. “The 150 new jobs this investment is bringing will have generational impacts on the Colquitt-Miller County community, creating long-term opportunities for hardworking Georgians.”

The facility will produce plastic raised pavement markers and reflective lenses. The operation will also engineer new processes to recycle previously considered unrecyclable materials, such as peanut-shell byproducts and textile cutoffs.

“We are thrilled to expand our manufacturing footprint into Colquitt, Georgia. This decision reflects the growing demand for sustainable products, the strength of our supplier base in the United States, and the greater ease of exporting to our commercial partners,” said João Paulo Moura, CEO of Grupo Vialume, in the news release. “Combined with attractive tax incentives, the stability of the U.S. dollar, and the security of investing in such a strong market, Colquitt offers the ideal environment for Grupo Vialume to continue building a brighter, more sustainable future.”

As Brazil’s largest manufacturer of reflective raised pavement markers, the company has been recognized as one of the top five manufacturers worldwide, according to the release. The business comprises four subsidiaries: Vialume, the parent company, Rodoprisma, PetBone, and Medlume.

The City of Colquitt is a small town of about 2,000 people located in the southwest corner of Georgia, approximately 30 minutes from Bainbridge.

The company plans to hire for positions, such as production operators, injection machinists, salespersons, and management positions. To learn more about job opportunities, visit www.colquittmillerchamber.com. 

“I’m encouraged by the positive economic development we’re seeing, because this project truly represents what collaboration can achieve,” said Colquitt Mayor Preston Clenney. “With support from the State of Georgia, the City Development Authority, and the dedicated leadership who have helped nurture this project, Grupo Vialume is creating new opportunities that will benefit our rural community for years to come.”