PUEBLO, Colo. (KKTV) – Gulfco Manufacturing, is a company which builds machines and parts for the food processing industry in Pueblo.

While their operations are in Pueblo, this company ships their products to over 50 countries.

Major restaurants, like McDonald’s and Chick Fil A, use Gulfco’s products to slice apples for their Happy Meals and strain pulp for their lemonades.

Gulfco has been in Pueblo since 1986 and during this time they’ve employed hundreds of locals and spent half $1 billion in wages.

But now, Gulfco wants to invest in the Pueblo community even more by going solar.

“We continue to work, we continue to grow, so you know we are reliable in the fact that we’re going to be an employer overtime, but we’re also providing high-tech jobs and we continue to do so,” Arvel Wooten Senior Director at Gulftech International, Gulfco Manufacturing’s parent company, tells 11 News.

So on Tuesday, Gulfco Manufacturing held a ribbon cutting to launch their Solar Field Project, to give back to the community in another way.

Andy Zellars, CEO of Influent Energy, who installed the solar panels for Gulfco Manufacturing, says, “This is an investment in the community.

Zellars continues saying, “Here in Pueblo this project is going to produce hundreds of thousands of dollars in property tax revenue for the county.

“It’s going to fund public schools. It’s going to fund all of the public works that the county’s involved in, it’s also going to make the grid more stable.

“Folks who are not in the industry may not know that energy growth and demand for energy is increasing nationwide along with energy rates.

“So this investment, while it’s going to pay off for Gulfco as a company and while it’s going to reduce their energy demanded by up to 90%, it’s also going to make the grid more stable.

“It’s going to reduce electric rates for everybody.”

CEO for Gulfco Tech International, Steve Ferrell, tells 11 News, “Our partnership with this community has always been built on mutual respect, shared values, and a common purpose.

Furthermore, Ferrell says, “As we look ahead, we remain committed to innovation and community engagement, strengthening a relationship with the same energy and integrity that brought us here nearly four decades ago.”

Pueblo leaders are also excited about Gulfco making the switch.

CEO and President of the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, Duane Nava, tells 11 News, “This achievement is not just about harnessing sunlight, it is about illuminating a brighter future for our community, our businesses and generations to come.”

Nava continues saying, “Gulfco is setting an example of sustainability and innovation that will ripple across industries and inspire future endeavors.

“The economic impact of this solar field will be felt in more ways than one.

“It provides cleaner energy, attracts new businesses committed to sustainability and creates jobs that strengthen our local economy.

“Pueblo has always been a city of resilience and opportunity and today we add another chapter to our story, one that proves we are not just keeping up with change, but we are leading it.

“Let this project serve as a reminder that when we come together with a shared purpose, we can achieve incredible things.”

Senior Manager of Strategy for Gulftech International, Vesselina Pentcheva, tells 11 News, “We made this investment, not only for our facility and for our manufacturing site, but also it shows our commitment to the community and shows our commitment to sustainability and it really showcases that you can align sustainability with profitability.”

Currently, Gulfco Manufacturing has about 120 employees.

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