Global Packaging will expand its Richmond County manufacturing plant, hiring 33 new workers and investing more than $13 million in the facility over the next five years, state and local officials said Friday.

The Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of packaging material for food and consumer goods plans to construct a new building and install new equipment at the plant on Marks Creek Lane. Gov. Pat McCrory’s office and Richmond County leaders made the joint economic development announcement Friday in conjunction with owner and CEO Tony Maginnis.

“I am excited about these manufacturing improvements and the investment being made in Hamlet,” Maginnis said in a statement. “I am proud of the work of our employees and the positive impact this has for both Global Packaging and Richmond County.”

The company will receive a $100,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund and a 60 percent property tax grant on new investment in Richmond County over the next five years, County Manager Rick Sago said. Maginnis credits county and state officials along with the city of Hamlet with making the expansion possible.

“Global would especially like to thank the Richmond County Board of Commissioners and their senior staff for all of their efforts coordinating things with the city of Hamlet and the state of North Carolina,” he said. “Richmond County has stood behind Global since day one and has made it much easier to do business. The expansion has added to employee headcount and increased the local tax base, which is good for everyone.”

McCrory said the announcement will increase North Carolina’s presence in the national marketplace.

“The products that Global Packaging makes in its Hamlet plant are used by companies all across the country,” McCrory said in a statement. “Now with this announced expansion, more ‘made in North Carolina’ products will be in people’s homes.”

Salaries for new jobs in printing and bagmaking will vary by job function, but the governor’s office said the positions will pay an average of $33,634 per year. Richmond County’s annual average wage is $31,140.

The city of Hamlet matched Richmond County’s tax credit, a performance-based incentive that gives companies a temporary break on taxes for the investment it makes in the local economy.

“It is a partnership,” Sago said. “You’ve got to have everyone pulling in the same direction. For Hamlet to step up and basically match the county’s incentive was a big deal.”

Commissioner Jimmy Capps said the Friday announcement shows that Richmond County is open for business.

“This is very good news that Global Packaging an existing industry will expand and build a new facility in Richmond County,” he said in a statement. “It is a testament of how all the work that we have all done in the past to create an industry-friendly environment along with improving infrastructure will foster growth within our county.”

Richmond County Economic Development and the N.C. Department of Commerce worked with the city of Hamlet, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina and Richmond Community College to enable Global Packaging to expand.

“We are very excited about the expansion of Global Packaging,” Mayor Bill Bayless said in a statement on behalf of the Hamlet City Council. “They have worked very hard and done business in this community with much success. The city is looking forward to a continued partnership with the company. It is always beneficial to our community when jobs come and remain in Hamlet. We want to assist in any way we can are happy to play a part in this expansion announcement.”

Based outside Philadelphia, Global Packaging Inc. is a flexographic printing company that makes bags and printed rollstock packaging for consumer products including frozen foods, bakery products, paper towels and tissues.

The company set up shop in the former Alpha Plastics facility in 2011, initially planning 64 jobs and a $1.7 million investment.

“This plant in Hamlet has been a part of Richmond County’s manufacturing base since 2011,” Board of Commissioners Chairman Kenneth Robinette said in a statement. “It is very good news see one of our existing industries thriving by adding new jobs and investment, despite the challenges that many industries are facing. Global has been growing since they came to Richmond County and pay well above the average county wage. I am very are very proud we were able to recruit such a strong company four years ago, and are looking forward to working with them with them on their continued growth.”

Sago and Martie Butler, Richmond County’s economic developer, credit commissioners with giving county staff the ability to negotiate local incentives directly with business leaders. That gives Richmond County a competitive edge over counties where the elected commissioners must green-light every decision in closed sessions during their regular meetings.

“Not every county manager and economic developer have the tools to negotiate these deals like we do,” Sago said. “I can’t stress enough how business-friendly and how jobs- and investment-oriented this Board of Commissioners is. This board has always made creation of jobs and investment priority No. 1. Not only do they talk the talk, they back it up.”

Hamlet city leaders also deserve credit for securing the expansion, Sago said.

“We’ve got a partnership here with our municipalities,” he added. “It matters that we know we can work with any of these municipalities when we have a project and they will work with us.”

 

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