Evansville Graham Packaging Facility Nears Completion

Graham Packaging Company, L.P. has announced plans to open a major manufacturing plant in the Vanderburgh Industrial Park near Evansville, Indiana. The plant is expected to begin operation by April 2002 and provide more than 60 full-time jobs.

The company will lease a 147,000-square-foot, single-story masonry and steel building to be built by Woodward Commercial Realty on a 23-acre site at an estimated cost of $5 million. Graham Packaging will invest $23 million in blow-molding equipment at the new plant.

Construction is expected to be substantially complete by January 1, 2002. Installation of equipment will begin shortly thereafter.

“The new plant in southern Indiana will complement our plant operations in Holland, Michigan, and Muskogee, Oklahoma, and will enable us to provide full manufacturing coverage in the central United States,” said Paul Bailie, director of business development for Graham Packaging.

“We chose Vanderburgh County for its location, the favorable economic climate, the labor pool, including workers with experience in the plastics industry, and because the energy supply is abundant and price-stable,” Bailie added.

Ken Robinson of Vision 2000 introduced Graham Packaging to the Evansville area and, with the support of President David Mosby and the Vanderburgh County Commissioners, helped the company through the process of applying for economic incentives. The County Council, along with the Redevelopment Board, approved tax and infrastructure incentives that made Vanderburgh County an economically viable choice.

The Indiana Department of Commerce, directed by Indiana Lt. Governor Joe Kernan, provided additional infrastructure and training incentives, as well as tax credits. The Evansville Industrial Foundation assisted by helping bring rail service to the site.

The company employs approximately 4,000 people at 60 plants throughout North America, Europe, and Latin America and produces more than six billion containers per year.

For more information on Vanderburgh County or Vision 2000, contact:
Ken Robinson - 812-423-2020
(ken@vision2000.org)