GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Green Bay Packaging is planning to more than half-a-billion dollars to build what it says will be the first new paper mill in Wisconsin in 30 years.
“It’s a huge monetary commitment for us. It’s big, big, big, biggest thing we’ve ever done but it will set us up for many years to come, ” said Will Kress the CEO of the company. “You know we were all born and raised here in Green Bay, my grandpa, my great grandpa, and we have great workers here. I just seems like the natural thing to do to be here in Green Bay,” he said.
Management says their current 71-year-old facility is outdated and inefficient.
The new mill will be built on the same site as the current mill and is expected to preserve more than 1,100 jobs.
The company is hoping to add 200 more jobs over the next few years.
“We are going to be able to run this machine, three times what we run our current machine, so we are going to be able to improve our production by three times, ” said Executive Vice President Bryan Hollenbach.
The new mill will have several environmentally friendly features, with plans calling for the mill to use all recycled paper in its products.
Green Bay Packaging has also developed plans to use treated wastewater in its production process and not release any wastewater into the Fox River.
The company also says it will replace its coal-fired boiler with two natural gas boilers to eliminate the use of coal.
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is working on offering $60 million in state tax credits to Green Bay Packaging.
Governor Walker was in Green Bay Tuesday to explain why.
“It could have been build anywhere in the country, and with the help of the city, county and state, they decided to stay right here in Green Bay.”
Construction is projected to begin in September, with the new mill opening in 2021.
