Sept. 16, 2026

VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority (VLCDA) shared that five local industries plan to invest $26.2 million and add 77 new jobs in 2026. These projects involve expanding facilities, building new spaces, upgrading equipment, and improving production to help these companies grow and operate more efficiently.

The VLCDA focuses on both attracting new businesses and helping current ones grow. By supporting workforce training and investing in sites and infrastructure, these efforts strengthen local industries, encourage investment, and set Valdosta-Lowndes County up for steady growth.

“Recruiting new industries often gets the spotlight and is an important part of our growth. Equally important, when a company decides to expand, it shows trust in our workforce, business environment, and community,” said Niki Y. Ogletree, VLCDA President and CEO. “Helping these companies grow and prepare for the future is one of our top priorities.”

Ace Electric leads these expansion projects with its new corporate headquarters. This $20 million investment will consolidate administrative operations and provide additional space and resources to support the company’s growth.

The new Ace Electric headquarters offers more than office space. It features a corporate gym, walking trail, outdoor areas, and a multipurpose training area. The expanded training space reinforces Ace Electric’s commitment to workforce development and ensures employees are well-prepared to work safely and effectively.

Located on Inner Perimeter Road in Valdosta, the new corporate office is the fourth Lowndes County facility, joining Ace Engineering & Fabrication, the Valdosta Division offices, and Ace University, the company’s training center.

Rob Stalvey, President, Corporate Support for Ace Electric, said the new corporate office marks a defining moment in the company’s history, founded in July 1975 with three employees in a small garage on the family farm in northeast Lowndes County.

“Ace has been blessed to call Valdosta and Lowndes County its home for 51 years, and the completion of our new corporate headquarters facility represents a defining moment in the history of the company,” he said. “The investment in this 30,000-square-foot office building represents a continued commitment to both the community and to the thousands of Ace Team Members who have literally spent the past five decades building the company to what it is today. Our success is a product of our people and the culture that we have created.”

Ace Electric has more than 1,500 employees across 10 locations in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Ohio. They are currently working on jobs in seven states.

“Every step of this journey has been rooted here in Valdosta,” Stalvey said. “We are proud to be founded here; proud to have grown here and proud to build for the future here.”

Ogletree said that economic growth depends on teamwork, whether it’s bringing in new industries or helping current companies. The Development Authority works with the City of Valdosta, Lowndes County, utility partners, educators, and state economic development leaders to create an environment where companies can invest, grow, and succeed.

“It takes tremendous teamwork and a shared vision to compete for new investment and support the industries that are already here,” Ogletree said. “Those partnerships are a key part of what keeps Valdosta-Lowndes County ready for growth and positioned for future opportunities.”

For more information, contact 
Niki Ogletree, President/CEO 
Valdosta Lowndes County Development Authority 
nogletree@buildlowndes.com 
229.259.9972