Phoenix Packaging to expand in Pulaski

Phoenix Packaging Operations LLC, a container manufacturer for the global food and beverage industry, is planning to expand its manufacturing operation in Pulaski County, creating 145 new jobs.

The company, a subsidiary of Colombia-based Grupo Phoenix, opened a manufacturing facility in Pulaski in 2010. This expected $48.7 million million investment is the company’s third expansion of the facility.

“Grupo Phoenix evaluated various location options to build upon its future in the United States and chose Virginia due to a variety of factors including a central location that allows us to be within 400 miles of 80 percent of the U.S. East Coast population; the ability to negotiate electricity at a competitive rate; access to rail transport, which reduces our logistics; a motivated labor force; support from the local colleges and universities to assist us with training specialized technical jobs; and the accessibility and unwavering support of the government to work together within the industry to create jobs,” Grupo Phoenix CEO Alberto Peisach said in a statement.

Todd Haymore, the state's secretary of commerce and trade, noted that Grupo's newest investment will strengthen Virginia's growing packaging industry. It has created more than 6,600 jobs and $3.9 billion in capital investment in Virginia since 2007. 

Virginia competed against Arizona and Mexico for the project.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe approved a $600,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund for the project. The governor also approved a $1 million performance-based grant from the Virginia Investment Partnership (VIP) program, an incentive available to existing companies.

Grupo Phoenix will also receive benefits from the Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure Development Zone Grant Program, and is eligible to receive funding from the Rail Industrial Access Program. The company is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program and the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.