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Multi-million dollar investment allows Plaskolite to create 38 jobs, acquire new facility
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ZANESVILLE − A local plastic company is looking at a multi-million-dollar investment that should result in nearly 40 new jobs in Muskingum County.
The Plaskolite, LLC facility in the Eastpointe Business Park recently announced a $11.9-million investment and subsequent employment expansion through JobsOhio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE), the Ohio Department of Development, and Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority.
With it, Zanesville’s Plaskolite is expected to add 38 new jobs, improve product output by 85%, and generate $2.2 million of new money, noted a Plaskolite in a news release. The expansion is being supported by a Ohio Department of Development tax credit.
“Our community has had a long-standing and positive relationship with Plaskolite, LLC,” said Matt Abbott, director the Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority. “We are thrilled of Plaskolite’s decision to expand in Zanesville and bring additional employment opportunities and capital investment to our area.”
The company plans to acquire a new facility to consolidate it functions, not build a new structure, and the port authority will work to accommodate additional rail transfers to support Plaskolite’s greater demand for raw materials.
“I see this being in motion the first quarter of 2025,” Abbott estimated.
“The port authority owns and operates a railyard at the Eastpointe Business Park. Currently we have three spurs that feed into that park, and we’re looking right now to add additional spurs to create an advantage for businesses to be able to bring in raw product or transfer their products out of Muskingum County,” he noted.
Spurs are offshoots of mainline railroads used for shipping and unloading purposes.
“Right now, we’re at capacity so this is conversation that we’ve been having for some time,” Abbott said. “Plaskolite, their demand is kind of the trigger to get things moving a little quicker for us.”
Plaskolite is thermoplastics manufacturer based out of Columbus with acrylic, lighting, and polymer products used in glass replacement, skylights, automotives, and signage. The Zanesville location has been operational since 2000. The company has more than 2,000 employees across 18 international locations.
“It’s always good to see companies that are here and that have been here continue to grow here. I think that gives a positive outlook on our local economy,” Abbott said.
The project could also create local contracting work, too. A local contractor hasn’t been named yet, though. “It’s always nice to see on top of that a lot of local contractors that have the ability to complete some of the work that’s going to be required for Plaskolite,” Abbott added.
The Incumbent Worker Training program through Muskingum County Ohio Means Jobs will eventually train employees on the new equipment. JobsOhio will assist in recruitment and hiring through its Talent Acquisition Services Program. The services will be tailored to the company’s needs, including elements such as attraction, engagement, selection, and sourcing of candidates,” the news release said.
“By increasing production capacity and creating new jobs, we reaffirm our commitment to this community and to delivering innovative thermoplastic solutions for our customers worldwide,” said Michael Gilbert, president & CEO of Plaskolite.
The Plaskolite investment was just one of 14 total projects announced from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority December meeting. In all, the most recent wave of investments should create around 1,200 new jobs and retain nearly 3,000 current ones, according to a news release from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s office.
Overall, the projects are expected to generate $82 million new annual payroll for the Ohio-wide projects and curry $283 million in investments.
Shawn Digity is a reporter for the Zanesville Times Recorder. He can be emailed at sdigity@gannett.com or found on X at @ShawnDigityZTR.
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