The biggest medical distribution facility in Louisiana held its grand opening yesterday.
Medline cut the ribbon on a $72 million investment that brought in more than 300 construction jobs to Tangipahoa Parish. The facility is set to create over 300 more jobs when fully operational.
Construction is finished at the 650,000-square-foot warehouse on Industrial Park Road in Hammond, where it joins other large operations, including Entergy and Walmart.
Two and a half years ago, St. Tammany Parish denied a permit for a bigger Medline facility to move forward off Hwy. 21 in Covington. Medline decided to build its new building near the Hammond Regional Airport in the neighboring parish.
Gov. Edwards, Parish President Miller, Mayor Panepinto and many other officials were on hand for the Grand Opening ceremony yesterday.
Company officials say the new plant is energy efficient and built to survive a thousand-year flood.
Tangipahoa Parish officials say Medline trucks will typically come and go between 2 and 4 a.m., minimizing impacts on local roadways.
