$50M Dairy Plant Planned for Va.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — One of the largest family-owned-and-operated dairies in the U.S. plans to build a $50 million dairy manufacturing facility in Augusta County.

Gov. Bob McDonnell says the Shamrock Farms project will create 60 jobs.

The 130,000-square-foot facility will produce products including a new line of protein-fortified milk designed for muscle building and recovery used by sports teams in more than 150 colleges and universities nationwide.

Phoenix-based Shamrock Farms manufactures a variety of dairy products found in retail chains and quick-serve restaurants nationwide. Its farm hosts a herd of more than 10,000 cows.

McDonnell approved a $250,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund for the project. He also approved $50,000 from the Governor's Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund.