GAF, a Standard Industries company and one of North America’s largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturers, celebrated the opening of the new GAF Valdosta thermoplastic polyolefin commercial roofing plant with a ribbon-cutting event.

The celebration in Valdosta, Ga., approximately 72 miles northeast of Tallahassee, Fla., featured remarks from Valdosta city officials and GAF, demonstrations of the products produced at the new facility, and tours of the new plant, according to a company news release.

Attendees included Scott Matheson, mayor of Valdosta, GAF CEO John Altmeyer, John Barkhouse, GAF’s president and Daniel Duston, the GAF-Valdosta plant manager, local and state officials, and certified contractors from the region.

“Our community was greatly impacted by Hurricane Idalia, but we saw this neighborhood rally together and help one another,” Duston, the GAF-Valdosta Plant Manager, said. 

“We were proud to support this city during that time and look forward to continuing to do so in the future as members of the community,” he added.

The site has been fully operational since September 2024, but GAF said the celebration was delayed due to Hurricane Idalia. 

As part of the celebration, GAF announced the donation of TPO roofing material for the new Meta Shaw Coleman Children’s Imagination Station — a 10,000-square-foot expansion of the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, which will house science, technology, engineering, art, and math activities.

"The Turner Center for the Arts is grateful to be a recipient of the support and generosity of GAF, North America's largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer," said Executive Director Sementha Mathews, Ph.D.  

"The new roof for the Meta Shaw Coleman Children's Imagination Station is a testament [to] this company's dedication to Valdosta, Lowndes County's youth and their families and a guarantee of their friendship with our Center and this community for decades to come," Mathews added.

GAF stated that the state-of-the-art 425,000 sq. ft. facility has created more than 130 advanced manufacturing, logistics and engineering jobs in Lowndes County. The Valdosta plant is GAF’s fifth TPO facility and adds to the company’s existing Georgia operations in Savannah, Statesboro and Cumming.

“Whether it was donating to local organizations, handing out food during hurricane relief efforts, or building roofs, GAF has been rolling up their sleeves and supporting Lowndes County since the moment they got here,” said Scott Matheson, mayor of Valdosta. 

“GAF is the blueprint for community partnerships,” he added, “and we love having them in Valdosta – we hope to have them for 100 years.”

For more information, visit GAF.com.