Agriculture technology company to create approximately 700 jobs
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and Indigo Ag, Inc. President and CEO David Perry announced today that the agricultural technology company will establish the headquarters for its North American commercial operations in Memphis.
Indigo will invest nearly $6.6 million and create over 700 jobs in Memphis over the next three years.
“I’m extremely pleased to see Indigo create hundreds of corporate office jobs in Memphis with this expansion,” Haslam said. “Indigo is one of the fastest growing startups in the country, and the decision to make Memphis such a vital part of its future growth is a testament to Tennessee’s vibrant economy and skilled workforce.”
“Memphis and Tennessee continue to attract world-class companies,” Rolfe said. “Indigo’s expansion will bring hundreds of extremely well-paying jobs to Memphis and Shelby County. These are exactly the types of high-quality jobs we want companies to create in Tennessee, and I’d like to thank Indigo for its commitment to Memphis and West Tennessee.”
Indigo’s mission is to help farmers sustainably feed the planet. The company uses beneficial plant microbes and digital technologies to promote crop health and productivity, while focusing on improving grower profitability, environmental sustainability and consumer health. Indigo first established operations in Memphis in 2016. Since August 2018, Indigo has increased its headcount in Tennessee from 60 to 175.
“We chose to establish and grow Indigo’s headquarters for North American commercial operations in Memphis because of the proximity to our customers and Indigo Research Partners, the pro-business climate, access to world class talent, and the collaborative relationship between state and city government leaders,” Perry said. “We are committed to Memphis, a hub for North American agriculture, and we are excited to continue to grow in such an innovative and forward-focused city.”
Indigo plans to occupy 60,000 square feet of space in Memphis’ Toyota Center building. The company’s commercial headquarters in Memphis will include key departments, including finance, human resources, legal, general and administrative staff, sales, logistics, information technology, R&D, marketing and operations. C-suite and senior executives will also be based in Memphis.
One of the fastest growing startups in the country, Indigo was included on CNBC’s 2018 Disruptor 50 List, a ranking of the world’s most ambitious and innovative companies. The company is a winner of the Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Awards, a list of the Best Places to Work in 2019 list.
Local leaders applauded Indigo for its investment in Memphis.
“From our very first meeting a year ago, I knew I wanted Indigo in Memphis,” Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said. “They are exactly the type of business we want to go after—a high-growth, high-tech company with great paying jobs. This is a huge win for Memphis because it demonstrates to others in the industry that we mean business, and we’re ready to go to work.”
“Indigo is changing the game with its innovative, data driven approach to help produce food in a sustainable and responsible manner,” Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said. “Shelby County’s economic history was built on agriculture, so it is great news to have the future of agriculture expanding here in Memphis. Shelby County government looks forward to supporting good partnerships with Indigo and the City of Memphis as our economy continues to grow.”
“We couldn’t be more excited about bringing Indio’s North American commercial operations headquarters into downtown Memphis,” Jennifer Oswalt, president and CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission, said. “Indigo is known for being an exceptional innovator and we loved having the chance to be creative with them. We believe this move will be great for both Indigo and our community. We look forward to the energy Indigo’s workforce will bring to our core city and will continue to explore creative solutions for growing our business base in downtown.”
“TVA and Memphis Light Gas and Water congratulate Indigo on its decision to expand operations in Memphis, creating hundreds of new job opportunities,” said TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development John Bradley. “Helping to attract and retain quality jobs in the Valley is fundamental to TVA’s mission of service and we are proud to partner with Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Greater Memphis Chamber, EDGE, City of Memphis and Shelby County to help further that mission.”
The Greater Memphis Chamber also supported Indigo’s expansion in Memphis.
Memphis and Shelby County are represented by Sen. Brian Kelsey (R – Germantown), Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D – Memphis), Sen. Sara Kyle (D – Memphis), Sen. Katrina Robinson (D – Memphis), Rep. Karen Camper (D – Memphis), Rep. Jim Coley (R – Bartlett), Rep. Jesse Chism (D – Memphis), Rep. Barbara Cooper (D – Memphis), Rep. John DeBerry (D – Memphis), Rep. G.A. Hardaway (D – Memphis), Rep. London Lamar (D – Memphis), Rep. Tom Leatherwood (R – Arlington), Rep. Larry Miller (D – Memphis), Rep. Antonio Parkinson (D – Memphis), Rep. Dwayne Thompson (D – Cordova), Rep. Joe Towns (D – Memphis), Rep. Kevin Vaughan (R – Collierville) and Rep. Mark White (R – Memphis) in the Tennessee General Assembly.
About Indigo
Indigo improves grower profitability, environmental sustainability, and consumer health through the use of natural microbiology and digital technologies. Utilizing beneficial plant microbes and agronomic insights, Indigo works with growers to sustainably produce high quality harvests. The company then connects growers and buyers directly to bring these harvests to market. Working across the supply chain, Indigo is furthering its mission of harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet. The company is headquartered in Boston, MA, with additional offices in Memphis, TN; Research Triangle Park, NC; Sydney, Australia; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and São Paulo, Brazil. For more information on Indigo Agriculture, please visit www.indigoag.com and follow the company on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies that help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. To grow and strengthen Tennessee, the department seeks to attract new corporate investment to the state and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tnecd.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd.
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