Governor Mitch Daniels and Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel joined executives from Berry Plastics on October 30 to announce the company’s plans to consolidate its global corporate headquarters here, creating 250 new jobs.
The manufacturer and marketer of plastic packaging products will begin to invest more than $20 million to build and equip a new headquarters facility at 101 Oakley Road and will begin increasing staffing to meet the needs of the growing business.
“Berry Plastics joins a growing list of companies like Arcadia Healthcare, Really Cool Foods and SMC Corporation that have decided to grow their global headquarters in Indiana. Headquarters locations, with the high-paying jobs and community commitment they bring, are the best news an economy can get,” Daniels said.
The growth at the Evansville site follows Berry’s acquisition of plastics manufacturers Covalence and Rollpak earlier this year. Berry, which currently employs more than 1,200 at its Evansville operations, operates 55 manufacturing facilities worldwide that employ more than 12,600 associates.
“Due to the complete and thorough support from the State of Indiana and the City of Evansville, Berry Plastics is able to bring these jobs to Indiana,” said Brent Beeler, chief operating officer. “Our growth continues to be enabled by the vision and support of our elected officials. The skill and work ethic of the workforce in the Evansville community has been a key part of our company’s success.”
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Berry Plastics up to $4.7 million in performance-based tax credits and up to $200,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. The State of Indiana will also provide the City of Evansville a grant of up to $94,000 to assist with off-site infrastructure improvements needed for the project. The City of Evansville will provide property tax abatement; help with land acquisition, demolition of buildings, and give environmental assistance. The city will also make water and sewer improvements to the area. The Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, which includes Vanderburgh, Posey, Gibson and Warrick Counties, assisted in attracting the expansion project to Evansville.
“Berry Plastics has already made a tremendous investment in Evansville. The fact that they are moving their global headquarters here, and adding hundreds more high paying jobs, is great news for our City and our citizens,” said Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel. “We’re glad that we were able to come up with a deal that ensures Berry’s future in Evansville and continues the success our downtown redevelopment.”
About Berry Plastics
Berry Plastics is a leading manufacturer and marketer of plastic packaging products, including open top and closed top packaging, polyethylene-based plastic films, industrial tapes, medical specialties, packaging, heat-shrinkable coatings, building products and specialty laminates. With more than 17,000 customers in industries ranging from large multinational corporations to small local businesses, the company reported pro forma annual sales of $3.1 billion for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. For more information about Berry Plastics, visit www.berryplastics.com.
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