Garcia Celebrates Opening of New Plant
Robert Garcia, co-founder and owner of R.W. Garcia Co. Inc., a tortilla chip manufacturer, lifted his champagne glass. “To health, love, wealth, and above all, time to spend it,” Garcia said in Spanish. Glasses clinked as those gathered at the plant, located in the Lincoln County Industrial Park, joined Garcia in celebrating the grand opening of the 60,650 square foot building Saturday. R.W. Garcia is headquartered out of San Joes, California and has a second facility in Tampa, Florida. The company is co-owned by Garcia and his wife, Margaret. The initial $4.6 million investment will create 15 jobs at start-up, which is set for Monday, October 11, 2004. Total investment for the project is expected to reach $8.6 million and create 75 new jobs. Garcia corporate and management teams from both California and Florida, along with local officials, snacked on tortilla chips and a slew of dips before being led inside for tours. Company officials gave detailed explanations of how raw corn moves through a number of steps to become chips. The facility currently has just one manufacturing line but has the ability to accommodate three. Robert Garcia said he is excited to see the project become a reality. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to build a new manufacturing plant in Lincoln County,” he said. Before dinner, Garcia thanked a number of team and family members. He also thanked the Lincoln Economic Development Association and city and county officials for their roles in seeing the project through. Jerry Cochrane, chairman of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners, promised Garcia the county would support the company 100 percent. “This is a special day for R.W. Garcia, but this is a special day for Lincoln County, too,” Cochrane said. R.W. Garcia Company has been manufacturing all natural tortilla chips sine 1984. The company uses only natural ingredients, including stone ground corn and seasonings, in all its products.