July 7, 2023
(press release)
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At the home of Dixie’s newest manufacturing site in Jackson, Tennessee, the pieces are rapidly falling into place. Walls have been erected at the construction site and a team of nine Jackson employees is laying the groundwork for a successful startup in the summer of 2024. Georgia-Pacific broke ground on the more than $425 million facility in September 2022. It's the largest single investment in the city’s history. Once operational, the state-of-the-art facility will significantly increase the supply of disposable tableware products—namely, plates and bowls—in the marketplace, while supporting the Livingware and GP Pro business segments. “Although we have invested to expand existing sites, this is the first new Dixie® plant the company has built since 1991,” explains Fernando Gonzalez, president of the consumer business at Georgia-Pacific. “This added capacity will help us meet the needs of our customers as consumer demand for high-quality, durable paper plates and bowls continues to grow.” Five freshly printed rolls are sent to the forming press prior to transforming into final Dixie® products. The 900,000-square-foot facility sits on 241 acres west of Jackson. The fully air-conditioned workspace will include a printer, associated plate-forming converting assets, and other state-of-the-art manufacturing technology. Anticipated hiring for the new site will eclipse 220 by 2025. Georgia-Pacific directly employs approximately 460 people and operates six facilities in Tennessee. “Companies choose to invest in Tennessee because of our skilled workforce and unmatched business climate,” said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. “I commend Georgia-Pacific’s commitment to creating more than 200 jobs in Jackson so that Tennesseans across the region can thrive.” Currently, Georgia-Pacific’s economic impact contributes to 1,430 additional indirect jobs and $100 million in labor income, and the capital investment in the state has totaled more than $250 million since 2011. GP’s capital investments grow and improve our businesses which have a multiplier effect on people and the communities where we operate. The company will begin recruiting, hiring, and training employees in 2023. Georgia-Pacific has a long history of investing in people, and the Jackson plant will provide development for team members to allow them the opportunity to continue growing in their careers. The Dixie Jackson Team From left: John Edwards, Mike Cook, Karen Fair, Sam Chambers, Grant Hinds. Not pictured: Jo Cichello, Rob Schabron, Kathy Spoon, Kevin McArthur.
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