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Excelsior Packaging Group, a manufacturer of flexible plastic packaging, announced that it will open a new facility in Transylvania County, creating 110 jobs and investing $20 million in the area during the next three years. The announcement was made possible in part by a $250,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
Gov. Mike Easley said, �Excelsior Packaging�s decision to open a production facility in North Carolina will not only bring good jobs to hard-working families but also strengthen our reputation as a national leader in the plastics industry. North Carolina currently ranks No. 9 among plastics manufacturers in the U.S., employing more than 42,000 people. The creation of new jobs by companies like this will keep us at the forefront of this growing industry.� Excelsior Packaging has been in business since 1946 and manufactures flexible packaging for the food, medical and consumer packaging industries. Headquartered in Yonkers, N.Y., the company�s first North Carolina facility will make a new food packaging product line called SteamFast� beginning next year. SteamFast� uses a new technology developed by Excelsior Packaging that allows consumers to steam-cook food in their microwave ovens. The company pioneered the technology in Europe and will introduce it in the U.S. using the Transylvania plant for its production. The new jobs will be primarily skilled production positions that will pay an average of $534 a week plus benefits, which is higher than the Transylvania County average of $468 a week without benefits. �After an exhaustive search, Excelsior chose Transylvania County for its SteamFast� headquarters because of its quality of life, moderate temperatures and proximity to the Asheville Regional Airport and I-26,� said Excelsior Packaging Chief Executive Officer Ron Shemesh. �The combination of attractive economic incentives, city culture and the relaxation of country living led Excelsior to this decision.� The One North Carolina Fund assists the state in recruiting and expanding quality jobs by providing financial assistance to businesses or industries deemed by the Governor to be vital to a healthy and growing state economy. Through the use of this Fund, more than 17,000 jobs and $2.5 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other partners that helped make this announcement possible include the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community College System, Transylvania County, AdvantageWest, Duke Power and the Golden LEAF Foundation. For more information about Excelsior Packaging Group or potential job opportunities, contact the N.C. Employment Security Commission and JobLinks office at 828/884-3214. (Images provided by VisitWaterfalls.com.)
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