Ground was broken Friday on a 900,000-square-foot disposable tableware manufacturing plant in Jackson.
The Georgia-Pacific Dixie Jackson plant will make disposable plates, bowls, platters, and cutting boards, operating around the clock 362 days a year. The new Jackson plant will be the first plant the company has built in 30 years.
Georgia-Pacific’s $425 million investment is the largest single investment in the history of Jackson.
There are currently six Georgia-Pacific facilities in Tennessee employing 460. The new Jackson plant will hire 220. Since 2011, the company has invested $250 million in Tennessee.
“Companies are looking for communities that are a good fit,” said Kyle Spurgeon, president of The Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce. “Communities that are successful are looking for companies that are a good fit. Georgia-Pacific Dixie Jackson is a good fit for Jackson and Madison County.”
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee attended the event, and commented on the growth in the state, saying he has an obligation to ensure that roadways and infrastructures of existing areas are prepared for the future.
The Jackson city and Madison County mayors, along with local and state elected officials, were also on-hand for the groundbreaking ceremony, held on the campus of Jackson State Community College.
The new plant will be located on 241 acres west of the city near Airways and Fiberglass Road. Entry to the area will require a new roadway.
Dixie Jackson plans to begin recruiting, hiring and training employees next year, with an opening scheduled for mid-2024.
(PHOTO: (L to R) Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce’s Kyle Spurgeon.)
