Press Glass will be the first company to locate in the Commonwealth Crossing Business Center (CCBC) in Ridgeway.
The company announced on Monday it will invest $43.55 million, with plans to build a state of the art, 280,000 square-foot production facility.
Maciej Migalski, president of Press Glass, North America, said construction is set to begin in the last quarter of 2018.
Production is set to begin in the new facility by the end of 2019, according to Tomasz Wozowicz, CEO of Press Glass.
The project is expected to create 212 new jobs, with an average pay of $15 per hour, according to officials attending the announcement on Monday in Henry County.
Michael Lankford, vice president, said, “This new investment in Henry County is an important step for the company’s growth strategy. From this location, the new production facility enables Press Glass to enter a targeted sales territory and market segment.
“There are many reasons for selecting Henry County and the Commonwealth Crossing. The location of the industrial park is near our existing production facility in Stoneville, North Carolina, which will enable synergy between the two facilities, allowing them to share knowledge, resources, and management,” he said.
Geographically, the industrial park also allows good access to highways and interstates, and the proximity to future Interstate 73 will “make transportation of materials more efficient,” Lankford said.
“Building a formidable team will be paramount in the success of the operation, and we feel we can build such a team in this area,” he said. “Press Glass is looking forward to a successful future and working closely with the community.”
Headquartered in Poczesna, Poland, Press Glass was founded in 1991 and employs 2,100 across its 11 manufacturing operations. As the largest independent flat glass processing operation in Europe, the company processes glass for fabricators of windows and doors, facades, solar and photovoltaic panels, and more.
Jim Adams, chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors, compared the announcement to a home run.
Given the planning and permitting for CCBC, “it has been a spectator sport for over 10 years” with efforts sometimes met with cheers and at other times naysayers “who said ‘Give up,’” Adams said.
The announcement Monday showed that staying the course was important, he added.
Brian Ball, the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, was among those to attend the announcement. “This is an exciting win for Henry County, the region, and the Commonwealth,” Ball said.
“In addition to offering a pipeline of skilled talent, Henry County’s ability to provide a pad-ready site that accelerates the company’s timeline was a key component in their decision for Virginia. We are proud to welcome Press Glass to the Commonwealth’s corporate roster, and look forward to their future success,” he said.
The Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission assisted the project with an $835,000 Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund (TROF) grant. The Tobacco Commission also has invested more than $16 million in the development of Commonwealth Crossing.
“An investment of this magnitude is great news for Henry County and all of Southern Virginia,” said Del. Danny Marshall, a member of the commission. “That a company like Press Glass is willing to make such a commitment to our area shows that we have the workforce and other assets, like Commonwealth Crossing Industrial Park, to compete on a global scale when it comes to bringing jobs to our region. I look forward to seeing this project get underway and wish Press Glass many years of success here in Henry County.”
U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, who also attended the announcement, said the “announcement is exciting for Henry County. Press Glass is the latest company to recognize that Southside Virginia has the assets for manufacturing to thrive. Its plans to create 212 jobs and invest $43.55 million represent a significant boost for economic development in the area. I look forward to the new jobs and opportunity provided by today’s great news.”
Mark Heath, president and CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp., addressed the crowd attending Monday during an economic development announcement. Press Glass, a company from Poland, will locate in the Commonwealth Crossing Business Center (CCBC) in Ridgeway. Seated behind Heath are (L to R): Del. Danny Marshall; Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. Company officials include Michael Lankford, vice president; Maciej Migalski, president of Press Glass, North America; Tomasz Wozowicz, CEO, and Cezary Ziolkowski, CFO. (Contributed photo)
