Packaging manufacturer to create 75 jobs in Smyth County

Northlake, Illinois-based Scholle IPN, a flexible packaging supplier, will invest $31.1 million to expand in Smyth County, a project expected to create 75 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday.

Scholle IPN will expand its Smyth County facility by 73,000 square feet to allow new manufacturing lines for film extrusion and packaging. The company will also add more than 800 feet in rail track to support resin inflow.

“Catalyzing economic growth in Southwest Virginia is a priority for my administration, and we are thrilled that Scholle IPN will reinvest in its Smyth County operation and create 75 high-quality manufacturing jobs,” Youngkin said in a statement. “This valued employer continues to demonstrate a commitment to creating new jobs and opportunities for residents in this region, and this significant expansion will further solidify Scholle’s longevity in the commonwealth.”

Scholle IPN, which previously expanded its Chilhowie facility in 2019, provides sustainable packaging for the food, beverage and non-food sectors. The company specializes in barrier films, ergonomic fitments and filling equipment for bag-in-box and spouted pouches. Scholle IPN has 16 manufacturing locations on five continents.

Scholle IPN President and CEO Ross Bushnell said in a statement, “Southwest Virginia has truly become an advanced manufacturing corridor, and we are proud to continue to invest in the region. By committing over $30 million in the expansion of our Chilhowie, Virginia, facility, we not only better serve the needs of our customers across North America, we also ensure that Chilhowie and the state of Virginia remain at the forefront of our sustainable packaging capabilities.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Smyth County, the Mount Rogers Regional Partnership and the town of Chilhowie to secure the project, for which Virginia competed with Illinois and Georgia. Youngkin approved a $600,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund for the county. The company is eligible to receive benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The company is also eligible to receive benefits from the Rail Industrial Access Program through the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, which will require the Commonwealth Transportation Board’s approval.

The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, a workforce initiative created by the VEDP and Virginia Community College System, will provide customizable recruitment and training services at no cost to the company.