Ave Maria will soon be home to another large manufacturer.
On Tuesday, Barron Collier Cos. announced the sale of a 10-acre plot in the burgeoning town to Dialum, a Chilean-based glass manufacturer.
The manufacturer specializes in glass processing for commercial and residential applications. The new plant would serve as its U.S. headquarters.
The TALBA Group acted as Dialum's broker for the transaction. The choice to locate in Ave Maria followed a year-long search across the state, noted Roberto Alvarez Vela, the group's CEO.
Ave Maria emerged as the "clear winner" due to its location, the local workforce, the university – and the overall community, according to a press release by Barron Collier Cos.
The collaboration with Collier County's economic development team and the support of Barron Collier Cos. also influenced Dialum's final decision.
Barron Collier Cos. is the force behind the town, in partnership with Tom Monaghan, the creator of Domino's Pizza and founder of Ave Maria University.
Plant to be built in Innovation Zone
The finishing plant for Dialum would be built within Ave Maria's Innovation Zone. The company has been awarded $1.5 million in county incentives, which would come from property taxes generated in the zone.
The county created Innovation Zones in 2010 to promote economic development and diversify the local economy by encouraging the construction of corporate headquarters and manufacturing plants. There are three such zones.
“Choosing Ave Maria was an easy decision for several reasons. First is its ideal location between Miami and Tampa, and only a short, straightforward drive to Port Everglades, in Fort Lauderdale, where shipments of glass will arrive from suppliers," said Fernando Diez Vidal, director of Dialum, in a statement.
He added: "Secondly, Collier County offered our organization a monetary incentive, through the Ave Maria Innovation Zone, and was very welcoming."
Under the incentive agreement, the company would receive $500,000 after the certificate of occupancy is issued, allowing for move-in. The remainder of the money would be doled out equally over the following four years.
A groundbreaking is anticipated in the first quarter of 2025. Site preparation has already begun for the $25 million, 100,000-square-foot plant.
An expansion of another 60,000 to 80,000 square feet is envisioned in the future.
Dialum would join North Naples-based medical device manufacturer Arthrex, which has also received incentives for its expansion and growth in Ave Maria, east of Naples.
A showroom for customers
The glass plant will serve as a showroom where homeowners, window contractors and interior designers can go to see the choices and applications for themselves – and make custom orders.
“A showroom is very important because people need to see, touch and try things before they buy them,” Diez Vidal said.
Dialum is a family business founded in 1987 in Talcahuano, Chile.
The company's products include hurricane-resistant glass; fireproof and bulletproof glass for public buildings, banks or other high-security structures, anti-slip and shower glass for bathrooms, lacquered glass for walls and furniture, and privacy glass, commonly used for conference rooms.
In a presentation to Collier commissioners last year, Diez Vadal, shared that nearly 80% of the products Dialum is building today are for U.S. customers.
The company had been doing business in this country for more than 15 years, and the new headquarters would put it closer to some of its best customers, he explained.
The project could create 80 to 100 local jobs.
County commissioners unanimously approved the incentives for Dialum in August of last year.
During discussions, Rick LoCastro commented that the company picked a "great location," and it would be another "fantastic add" to Ave Maria, and the county.
He described the proposal as a good example of managed growth – and as the right type of growth and investment for the community "for sure."
Property records show Dialum paid $2.5 million for the land.
At its build out, Ave Maria will include up to 11,000 homes and 1.8 million square feet of retail, office and business park uses in its 5,000 acres, off Oil Well Road.
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