Resolute Forest Products U.S., Inc. will invest $270 million to undertake a major expansion at its pulp and paper mill located at Calhoun, Tn., Governor Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd announced Monday.
The top global paper products manufacturer is one of McMinn County’s largest employers and, through this expansion, will create 105 jobs.
“We want to thank Resolute for expanding in Tennessee and for the new jobs they’re creating in Calhoun and McMinn County,” Governor Haslam said.
“We think it says a lot when companies like Resolute, who can choose to do business anywhere in the world, continue expanding here, and today’s announcement is another step toward our goal of becoming the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”
“Resolute and the jobs they provide make a major impact in Calhoun and McMinn County,” Commissioner Boyd said. “They’ve been a cornerstone of this community since 1954 and this investment is a big vote of confidence in the quality of our state’s workforce. We’re focused on giving Tennesseans access to quality education so companies like Resolute have a pipeline of talented workers to ensure success for decades to come.”
Richard Garneau, Resolute president and chief executive officer, said, "Resolute's entry into the tissue market involves the construction of a new, state-of-the-art facility at our Calhoun plant, which will employ the very latest technology to manufacture tissue for use in the at-home, premium private label tissue market, including bath tissue and towel. Once fully operational, Resolute will produce high-quality products at one of the most competitive and efficient tissue operations. This is an important step forward for Resolute as we execute our growth strategy in a way that maximizes our ability to capture synergies and deliver superior value for customers."
Resolute will build a new, state-of-the-art facility to manufacture approximately 60,000 metric tons per year of at-home, premium bath tissue and towel, focused on the growing private label market.
The company’s tissue paper machine and converting operations will be built at the Calhoun mill. This expansion represents the largest investment made by Resolute since 2010.
McMinn County Mayor John Gentry said, “We want to thank Resolute for their continued faith in the McMinn County workforce, as made evident by this $270 million investment. We understand they had other options, but they chose us and for that we are humbled and truly grateful. Resolute continues to diversify and pivot with the changing market demands. We are indeed both fortunate and proud they will continue to call McMinn County home for many years to come."
TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development John Bradley said, “TVA congratulates Resolute Forest Products on its recent announcement of expansion plans involving major investment and adding more than 100 new jobs in the Calhoun community. We, along with the state of Tennessee and community economic development partners, celebrate Resolute’s continuing business success and longstanding commitment to grow in the Tennessee Valley.”
Resolute’s Calhoun mill, established in 1954 as one of the earliest newsprint mills in the southern United States, is located on the Hiwassee River in Calhoun. The paper mill is one of the largest in North America as a result of continued expansion and investments, and employs a workforce of more than 500 people.
Construction on the tissue project will begin in early June with production expected to start in the first quarter of 2017.
Calhoun and McMinn County are represented by Senator Mike Bell (R-Riceville) and Rep. John Forgety (R-Athens).