Phoenix Paper, which runs a paper mill in west Kentucky, is expanding with a new facility that represents a $200m investment. Kentucky Governor, Matt Bevin, confirmed the company’s investment recently during a conference call with West Kentucky leaders at Wickliffe City Hall. The company took over the site of the former Verso paper mill in Wickliffe. Phoenix Paper announced the completion of its first roll of paper there in May.
The commercial investment will include a paper recycling facility, Bevin said. The governor said there will be 150 employees at the new facility, which will open in 18 months. Phoenix Paper is owned by Chinese manufacturer Shanying International, and the new facility will produce recycled liner and fluting and send it to China to be used for packaging.
The governor said, while the United States and China are going through trade tensions at the national level, no state is working harder with China ‘at the sub-national level’ than Kentucky.
