Eastman to expand operations in Henry County

Eastman Chemical Co. is planning a $7.7 million expansion of its operations in Henry County.

The Kingsport, Tennessee-based specialty materials company, which now employs 776 people at its Henry County plant, said expansion will not immediately result in additional positions. Nonetheless, company officials said that future job growth is possible.

Eastman makes window and paint protection films in Henry County, where it began operations in 2013.

In its expansion project. Eastman will add capacity at its facilities at the Patriot Centre Industrial Park while also moving into a former furniture facility in the adjacent Bowles Industrial Park.

Eastman is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone (VEZ) program, which is administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, as well as local enterprise zone benefits from Henry County.

VEZ provides grant-based incentives to encourage job creation and private investment.

Henry County also will contribute a $200,000 grant to Eastman to assist with site development.

As part of its recently announced incentive pool funding program, the Martinsville-based Harvest Foundation will provide the grant money to the county.