The Central Florida Development Council announces the expansion of The Coca-Cola Company’s Main Street plant in Auburndale.

The company is investing $99 million in new equipment and warehouse space and will be hiring 60 new employees with an average annual wage of $41,000. The CFDC and the City of Auburndale assisted the company in obtaining state incentives worth $180,000 and a $420,000 road grant to help facilitate the expansion.

Since first locating its beverage manufacturing facility in Auburndale in 2002, the company has grown the plant to 905,000 square feet and 485 associates. Since 2002, the company has also invested over $450 million in the facility by making telecommunication and technology upgrades, expanding production capacity, and making other manufacturing upgrades. The current expansion will accommodate consumer demand for Coca-Cola’s “Simply” brand, which is currently in production in Auburndale.

The Auburndale facility also manufactures a few of Coca-Cola’s other brands such as Powerade, Minute Maid, and Gold Peak Tea.

Auburndale Mayor Keith Cowie stated, “We are so pleased that Coca-Cola Refreshments chose to expand operations here in Auburndale. Coca-Cola has proven to be a great business neighbor to the Auburndale community. The jobs are so important to improving the economic climate here in Polk County.”