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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

WestRock Company Expands Operations in Covington and Alleghany County, Virginia

09/27/2018
WestRock Company, a leading provider of differentiated paper and packaging solutions, will invest $248.4 million in its manufacturing operations in Covington and Alleghany County, Virginia. The investment will come over five-year period.

These investments will be used to purchase new equipment designed to improve productivity at the paper mill and extruding facility, as well as to increase employee training.

As an incentive, WestRock will receive funding from the Virginia Jobs Investment Program to support the retraining of 60 existing employees on the new equipment. Virginia successfully competed against several states for the project.

Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corporation, the Roanoke Regional Partnership, and the General Assembly’s Major Employment and Investment Project Approval Commission to secure these significant capital investments for Virginia.

Governor Northam approved a $2 million performance-based grant from the Virginia Investment Partnership program, an incentive available to existing companies. WestRock will also be eligible to receive Sales and Use Tax Exemptions on manufacturing equipment. Funding and services to support the company’s employee retraining activities will be provided through the VJIP.

“WestRock appreciates the support of Governor Northam, Secretary Ball and all who are supporting these investments,” said Bob Feeser, President of Consumer Packaging at WestRock. “The Commonwealth is a great place to do business, and the new equipment and additional training will enable us to better serve our customers and strengthen the local economy.”

“With more than 3,000 employed by WestRock across the Commonwealth, Virginia has one of the largest concentrations of company operations in the United States, and we are honored that this Fortune 500 company continues to reinvest here,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “These significant capital investments will ensure the company’s facility is equipped with world-class technology that will enable it to increase productivity and stay competitive in a global economy.”

“For well over 100 years, WestRock has been an integral part of the Alleghany Highlands,” said Covington Mayor Tom Sibold. “WestRock’s mission to be the best in the packaging industry remains unchanged, and we are excited that this region and its dedicated workers are helping WestRock achieve its mission.”

“WestRock Company’s significant investment in new technology and increased production at its Covington and Alleghany County plants reaffirms the company’s commitment to Virginia,” noted Delegate Nick Rush, Vice Chair of the MEI Commission.

“The WestRock paper mill is central to the economic health of the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Senator Creigh Deeds. “The paper mill not only produces world-class quality paperboard and is the largest packaged exporter from the Port of Virginia, but it is a major source of employment for the Alleghany Highlands and surrounding counties in two states. This announcement is critical to making sure that the paper mill can compete in the ever-changing market. The retraining involved makes sure that the already world-class workforce in the Alleghany Highlands remains among the best trained in the world, providing stability to our local and statewide economy.”

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