Pratt to construct paper mill in Henderson, Kentucky

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and the state’s Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman met with executives from Pratt Industries and other officials in Henderson, Kentucky, to announce the company’s new $400 million paper mill.

According to a news release on Gov. Beshear’s website, Pratt plans to build two facilities totaling 1.15 million square feet along Kentucky Highway 425 in Henderson County. The company’s initial investment will support the construction of a 450,000-square-foot paper mill that will manufacture 100-percent-recycled products. Pratt plans to make a future investment to construct a 700,000-square-foot corrugator plant to produce corrugated sheet and boxes using paper sourced from the new mill.

Pratt plans to begin construction on the new mill in March 2022, with completion slated for the fall of 2023, according to the news release. The corrugator facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. As a result of these investments, the new mill will add about 320 new full-time jobs to the area along with about 700 jobs related to the construction of the facility. The corrugator will add about 200 jobs to the area.

“The paper mill will be the world’s most advanced, environmentally friendly 100 percent recycled paper mill,” says Anthony Pratt, executive chairman of Pratt Industries. “And it means Pratt Industries will have built six of the last eight paper mills in the United States. This $400 million green manufacturing investment began in Gov. Beshear’s office in April 2021. He was so welcoming and enthusiastic about the opportunity, and the speed with which he has moved—and the enthusiasm and professionalism of the Kentucky team—really encouraged us to make this investment in American green infrastructure. It is the single biggest investment our company has ever made. We see further investment potential in this dynamic state, and Gov. Beshear’s leadership has made Kentucky a great place to invest in. I believe in regional manufacturing. It’s the heart and soul of America and there is no better place than Kentucky.”

This latest initiative brings the company's total cumulative investment value in the U.S. to about $10 billion since Pratt came to the U.S. 30 years ago. Pratt has been expanding its presence in the U.S. The company last added a paper mill in Wapakoneta, Ohio, in 2019. That mill also makes 100-percent-recycled paper and consumes old corrugated containers and mixed paper.

Currently, Pratt Industries operates paper mills in Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, New York and Ohio. The company employs more than 10,000 people in 30 states. Pratt is a sister company to Australia-based Visy, which was founded in 1948 and employs about 7,000 people.

“This is a significant investment in Kentucky and one that will make Pratt Paper a major employer in Henderson County for years to come,” Beshear adds. “Pratt is a company with a vision for the future, and I could not be more proud that future will include Kentucky. We’re not just rebuilding our economy in the commonwealth but surging ahead to levels we have not seen before. This is happening because great companies like Pratt Paper and strong leaders like Anthony Pratt can see where Kentucky is headed and know our skilled workforce is the partner they need to succeed.”