Just two years after opening its East Coast manufacturing plant in Davie County, Pro Refrigeration is expanding.

They have outgrown the 40,000 square feet of space in the former Crown Wood building on John Crotts Road and moved into more than 60,000 square feet of space in the former Renegade Tobacco warehouse on Beechtree Place, just off of Farmington Road near I-40.

The layout of the new location doubles the amount of space dedicated to the manufacturing process.

Pro Refrigeration was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Auburn Wash. In 2013, after a year-long search for a site that would fit their east coast expansion plans, the family owned manufacturer decided that Davie County best reflected their vision for the future.

According to CEO Jim Vandergiessen Jr., “We chose Davie County for our east coast manufacturing plant because of the skilled workforce, the business friendly environment, and the amazing support we’ve received from everyone we’ve met.”

An entrepreneurial mindset and a love for Davie County helped make the Pro Refrigeration expansion possible. When Pro Refrigeration recognized the need to expand its Davie foot-print, local leaders and entrepreneurs went to work to help keep the company here.

According to Terry Bralley, president of the Davie County Economic Development Commission: “Our community of business leaders and entrepreneurs has gained a lot of experience over the last several years and they know how to win in the economic development arena. Broad based community support for these wins has encouraged an entrepreneurial mindset among local business owners and entrepreneurs across Davie County.

“After a series of economic development wins since over the last several years, Davie County is running low on our inventory of existing buildings. While the former Renegade Tobacco warehouse had just about the right amount of space for the Pro Refrigeration expansion, there were some key pieces missing, including office space and parking. The building is owned by several local entrepreneurs who were able to work to up-fit the space to meet Pro Refrigeration’s office and parking requirements. Local entrepreneurs engaged and invested in economic development results in broad community support for local entrepreneurs.”

On Saturday, Oct. 24, Pro Refrigeration held an open house in the new Davie plant to celebrate 25 years in business and to showcase their new facility to the community.

Pro Refrigeration designs, manufactures, and distributes refrigeration systems for the dairy, winery, food processing, medical, and brewing industries.

Pro Refrigeration customers, employees and Davie County residents, as well as state and local government leaders attended the open house.