The Dalton-Whitfield Joint Development Authority (JDA) approved a $5 million bond deal Monday that will bring an international horse food maker and distributor to Whitfield County. The plant is expected to employ 32 when it is fully operational in two years.

Cavalor Inc. will purchase the old Pennant Foods building at 3529 Corporate Drive.

“This isn’t as big as some of the other projects we’ve announced in terms of jobs and investment,” said Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce President Brian Anderson. “But it helps diversify our economy — brings in an industry that isn’t here now — and utilizes an occupied building. We’ll take that all day.”

“We have been working for a while now with our Belgium partners, Versele Nutrition, to open our first North American manufacturing location here in Dalton,” said Cavalor CEO Michael Pollard.

“We are pleased to have Cavalor Inc. choose Dalton to place their business, and the JDA stands ready to assist in any way possible,” said JDA Chairman Andrew Walker.

JDA officials say the company is responsible for repaying the bond, and neither the city of Dalton nor Whitfield County will have any liability.

The JDA board had been set to vote on the bond package last week during a called meeting but could not because there wasn’t a quorum for the meeting.

Click here for more from the Dalton Daily Citizen