Area Development
A manufacturer of stone wool insulation products, Roxul Inc, is investing $130 million on a 600,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Byhalia, Mississippi, with plans to hire about 150 employees.

Roxul Inc., a division of Danish-based Rockwood International, a producer of stone wool, selected the Chickasaw Trail Industrial Park in Marshall County for its new facility in the north central part of the state. It is the company's first manufacturing plant in the United States. Stone wool is a fiber-based insulation made from natural stone and recycled content.

Trent Ogilvie, Roxul president said; "Roxul is thrilled to be building its first manufacturing facility in the United States. Roxul has continued to experience double digit sales growth throughout North America, and the new facility will ensure we can meet our customers' growing demands in North America. We appreciate the warm welcome we have received from the State of Mississippi and look forward to becoming an active member of the community."

"Roxul recognized the business-friendly nature of our state, and I am thrilled they have chosen Mississippi as the place to locate their first U.S. facility," Gov. Phil Bryant said.

As an incentive, the Mississippi Development Authority worked closely with company and local officials to help facilitate the project. The agency provided loan assistance through the Mississippi Industry Incentive Financing Revolving Fund for site preparation, as well as assistance for road improvements and workforce training. In addition, Marshall County and the Appalachian Regional Commission provided assistance for infrastructure improvements.

"This is fantastic news for Marshall County, and this global company's decision to locate these operations in Mississippi is a testament to our state's hard working and skilled workforce," said Brent Christensen, executive director of Mississippi Development Authority. "I thank Roxul for its investment in Mississippi and its confidence in our workers, and I look forward to watching the company thrive in Marshall County."

Roxul Inc. has been operating in Canada for more than 20 years. The company is the leading North American manufacturer of stone wool insulation products for the North American market and has operations in Milton, Ontario, and Grand Forks, British Columbia, which will remain in operation.