Sugar City fertilizer plant opens

A new fertilizer plant in Sugar City which is expected the factory is set to open next month and bring 30 new jobs to the area, held a ribbon cutting on Wednesday.

Construction on Pro Peat broke ground last year. The plant is expected to be fully operational by November.

John Pocock, owner of Pro Peat, wanted to start his business in Sugar City. “We could have chosen somewhere else to build this facility; in fact, it would have been better to build this in the southeast,” he said. “But we grew up right here in Sugar City. We like our local community and want to have our community grow.”

The fertilizer plant will manufacture its product using new state -of-the-art equipment.

“In the future we will need anything from secretaries to fork lift operators, especially when we expand,” Pocock said.

Sugar City Mayor David Ogden said Sugar City is growing and residents are looking forward to it.

“Businesses that create the small amount of jobs actually last longer in communities and are less likely to move out of the community,” Ogden said.

Pocock said the fertilizer that the plant will manufacture will cut fertilizer use in half.

“It does not leak nitrogen into the groundwater as fast as commercial fertilizers do. It’s safer for the environment,” Pocock said.

Pocock said the fertilizer will be available for golf courses and will eventually make its way to home lawn care, gardening and city parks.