Homestead Creamery to expand Franklin County facility

Dairy products maker Homestead Creamery will carry out a $2.5 million renovation and expansion of its Franklin County production facility, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday.

The company will build a new ice cream production room and install additional production and refrigeration equipment and freezers. The expansion is in response to growing customer demand for the creamery’s churned ice cream products, according to a news release.

Homestead Creamery expects to add two jobs and to purchase an additional $1.9 million of cream produced in Virginia over the next three years.

“On the heels of celebrating Virginia Dairy Month and Virginia Agriculture Week, today’s announcement of Homestead Creamery’s expansion and investment in Franklin County and in Virginia’s dairy industry is another example that Virginia is on the move,” Youngkin said in a statement. “I’m grateful to Homestead Creamery for their investment into one of Virginia’s top milk-producing counties and for supporting the growth of Virginia’s dairy industry — the fourth largest commodity in the commonwealth.”

Founded in 2001 in the Burnt Chimney area of Franklin County, Homestead Creamery uses milk from local dairy farms to produce milk, ice cream, eggnog and other dairy products sold through retail and wholesale networks. The company also has an on-site retail market and deli.

Homestead Creamery currently sells its dairy products and specialty lemonade in about 100 stores across the state. Its ice cream is available in 29 flavors across 13 states and Washington, D.C.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services worked with Franklin County to secure the expansion project. Youngkin approved a $20,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Facility Grant program, which the county will match with local funds.

“This grant will fuel our vision for impactful building improvements, empowering us to better serve our customers and community,” Homestead Creamery Controller Jesse Novak said in a statement. “Together, we’re nurturing growth, innovation and prosperity. Thank you for believing in our mission and investing in our future.”