Packaging company to begin operations in Botetourt County

Pratt Industries Inc., the fifth-largest corrugated packaging company in the world, plans to establish a new paper packaging and shipping materials manufacturing operation in Botetourt County.

The $20 million project is expected to create 50 jobs.

The new facility, which will be set up in an existing shell building at the Botetourt Center at Greenfield,  will be Pratt’s second manufacturing operation in Virginia. The other plant is in Ashland.

The Conyers, Ga.-based company expects the Botetourt plant to allow it to increase market share and grow sales of paper-based packaging and shipping materials in Virginia and surrounding states.

Founded almost 30 years ago, Pratt Industries today has manufacturing facilities in more than 25 states employing about 8,000 people.

The website of the Roanoke Regional Partnership, an economic development organization, describes Botetourt Center at Greenfield as a research and advanced manufacturing busienss park with a 100,000-square-foot shell building that can be expanded to 200,000 square feet.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Botetourt County, the Roanoke Regional Partnership and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to secure the project.

Gov. Ralph Northam approved a $300,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Botetourt County with the project.

Pratt Industries is eligible for sales and use tax exemptions on manufacturing equipment, as well as recycling tax credits for the processing of recyclable materials.