Blanchard Equipment recently hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Statesboro dealership.
A John Deere agricultural and turf dealer, Blanchard Equipment will build a state-of-the-art equipment dealership at a 10-acre site located on the corner of Veterans Memorial Parkway and Miller Street Extension. The new build has an estimated completion of summer 2025.
At the event, members of the Blanchard team along with the architects, builders and community members were able to see the new site and participate in unique breaking of ground by company owner, Phillip Blanchard.
Company CEO Matt McMahon shared his excitement about the new facility and how it will be a benefit to customers, employees and the community.
“As we turn this soil today, we recommit ourselves not just to the growth of Blanchard Equipment, but to supporting the growth and prosperity of all who rely on us,” McMahon said. “We are proud to be building a facility that will not only meet current demands but also anticipate the needs of future generations to come.”
Then, instead of using traditional golden shovels, Blanchard broke ground using a 4066R John Deere tractor that had a golden backhoe. Following the breaking of ground, McMahon invited all attendees to sign the golden bucket.
The signed bucket will be displayed at the current Statesboro dealership on Stockyard Road and then at the new dealership to symbolize the correlation between the growth of the company and the support from customers, employees and the community, the company stated in a release.
According to the release, the new facility will feature a more conducive building, office spaces, training rooms, warehouse space and shop space.
“As we look to the future, our new facility highlights an essential need – the need for skilled
mechanics which is a need across the entire country,” McMahon said. “This facility will provide an advanced environment for training and development, helping us to continue to build our team's expertise and ensure we have the best hands working on every piece of equipment.”
McMahon went on to thank his team, John Deere and those working on the project that included Pope Construction (Statesboro), Christopher Booker Architect (Augusta), and Maxwell Reddick
Engineering Firm (Swainsboro).