Port St. Lucie welcomes innovative human milk processing company

PORT ST. LUCIE — LactaLogics, a mission-driven company dedicated to bringing more human milk to babies, is opening its headquarters and processing facility in Port St. Lucie.

“Although breast milk is vital to the health of premature infants, most rely on cow’s milk-based formula for nutrition due to the lack of access to human milk,” LactaLogics co-founder Chelly Snow said. “To address this need, LactaLogics plans to collect excess milk from qualified donor moms across the United States and then gently process the milk to meet the unique needs of premature infants.”

With multiple patents filed, the company has tested and refined its systems and will build its facility at the former Liberty Medical building at 8883 U.S. Highway 1.

Significant capital and equipment investments, extensive renovations and upgrades are planned for the 60,000-square-foot building. The company plans to hire an additional 60 full-time workers at 107% of St. Lucie County’s average wage.

“The goal is to make more human milk available to hospital NICUs (neonatal intensive care units) and parents across the country,” Snow said. “Families will finally have better access to human milk-based products, helping to improve the health of newborns while supporting moms who struggle with breastfeeding.”

The incentive package for LactaLogics will include expedited site plan and permitting; ad valorem tax exemptions for tangible personal property only at 100% for the first five years, then at 90%, 80%, 60%, 40% and 20% for the next five years; mobility and impact fee mitigation and an opportunity for a Job Growth Investment Grant.

Snow said Port St. Lucie is the ideal home for the company because it offers critical infrastructure and a desired workforce for the high-tech manufacturing facility, bringing more jobs to the Treasure Coast.

“We always talk about local businesses and local citizens having the opportunity to bring their business to Port St. Lucie. The owners of LactaLogics are residents of Councilwoman Morgan’s district,” said Jolien Caraballo, the Port St. Lucie vice mayor. “It’s wonderful to know we are going to have a new business utilizing an old space that’s needed to be filled for a while, providing jobs and, more importantly, economic impact to the eastern side of the city.”

LactaLogics is on a mission to improve the lives of the world’s smallest, most vulnerable patients. Dedicated to purpose-driven, transparent, and collaborative practices, the company combines innovative technology and holistic donor care to bring more human milk to babies. For more information, visit www.LactaLogics.com.

“It’s an excellent project. It’s definitely something that is very different than we are used to seeing. It’s going to serve a great need, not only in our community but probably around the entire country,” said Mayor Shannon Martin during the March 27 city council meeting. “It’s very exciting to see development happening on the east side. I think, coupled with what’s going to come forward with our master plan with City Center, it’s going to really boost the entire area.”