NC: Packaging Manufacturer to Add 124 Jobs in McDowell County

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Gov. Bev Perdue recently joined executives from RockTenn, a leading integrated manufacturer of corrugated and consumer packaging and recycling solutions, in Marion to announce that the company will expand in McDowell County. RockTenn plans to create 124 jobs and invest $23 million over the next 18 months, with a total investment of almost $30 million after five years. The project was made possible in part by a $372,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.

“Growing corporations need trained, educated workers, and they know they can find them in North Carolina because of our long history of investing in education and job training,” Gov. Perdue said. “Those investments paved the way for RockTenn to bring new manufacturing jobs to an area hit hard by the economic recession. The company’s commitment to McDowell County is another indication that the state and local economies are recovering.”

RockTenn is a leading producer of corrugated and consumer packaging products, serving a broad range of market segments, in particular cosmetics, personal care, pharmaceutical, food and household goods. The company will expand its McDowell County operation by moving to a new facility in Marion. RockTenn and its subsidiaries currently employ 233 workers in McDowell County and over 1,000 throughout North Carolina.

Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $33,023 plus benefits. The McDowell County average annual wage is $29,224.

"We are extremely pleased to expand our operations in the Marion community. Our continued growth in North Carolina enables us to improve on our primary objective, which is to enhance customer satisfaction by providing value-added products and services at low cost,” said Jim Rubright, Chairman and CEO of RockTenn.

The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.

North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state works aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.

Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 50,000 jobs and $9 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other partners that helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, the McDowell Economic Development Association, McDowell County and the City of Marion.

For more information about RockTenn, including job opportunities, go to www.rocktenn.com.