In both locations the company’s decision to do business was incentivized by economic development funding.
Everywhere at once
Not including these new sites, Silgan operates 20 manufacturing facilities across North America as well as five sales offices and its headquarters in Chesterfield, Missouri.
The packaging company designs and supplies blow molded plastic containers to several industries and counts numerous prominent personal care brands among its clientele—Avon, Bath & Body Works, Beiersdorf, L’Oreal, and P&G.
Silgan is known for manufacturing jars, tubes and bottles in iconic shapes for skin care products, hand soaps, sun care, hair care, and oral care, according to the company site.
The show-me state
Construction has begun on a new Missouri facility, a 500,000-square-foot plant slated to open later this year, reported the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Starting in late September, and while the company’s own facility is under construction, Silgan will operate out of a leased building owned and built on the site of the town’s former Ford vehicle assembly plant.
“The primary focus of the facility is to support the growth of existing long-term strategic customers, lower overall operating cost of our manufacturing network, and to provide a platform for growth in target markets,” said Sarah Macdonald, president of Silgan Plastics, according to PlasticsNews.com.
The town of Hazelwood is near St. Louis and will gain 120 manufacturing jobs from the Silgan development. The local city council approved a $1.4m interest-free loan to Silgan, to pay for facility equipment.
The state of independence
The borough of North East, Pennsylvania, also provided Silgan with economic development funding, which, according to AreaDevelopment.com, includes $90,000 in job creation tax credits. North East will gain only 30 jobs from the new Silgan facility being built there.
Here, the packaging company will operate a 135,000-square-foot plant comprising manufacturing, warehouse and distribution departments. "Silgan is a great company, attracted to the Erie region by a great workforce and strong business partners,” John Elliot, president of Develop Erie told that publication. “We welcome them to our community. It was a privilege to help them make their new investment in North East."