Dart Container Corporation, the world’s largest manufacturer of foam cups, is expanding its east Hillsborough County operations in Plant City, investing $14 million in a new 400,000-square-foot facility and adding up to 24 new jobs in the process.
"This is incredible news for the residents of Plant City, and we thank Dart Container for its continued commitment to our community. As we work to bring more quality jobs and investment to Plant City, Dart Container stands out as a true story of partnership and success. We expect this to be the first of many announcements as we grow our business base," says Plant City Mayor Mary Thomas Mathis.
Based in Michigan,
Dart Container has 45 locations in eight countries, and more than 14,000 employees, including 230 at its existing 480,000-square-foot plant in Hillsborough County.
The company’s 2012 purchase of
Solo Cups increased production volume, prompting the need of additional warehouse space. Many Solo Cups brand products will be distributed from the company’s new Plant City site. The facility is expected to be complete by mid-2014.
In 2012, in an effort to increase the community’s competitive advantage in high-impact economic development projects, the City of Plant City approved a moratorium on the collection of transportation mobility fees.
Dart Container received a fee waiver of $139,200, further solidifying additional market productivity, regional economic growth and job creation for the Tampa Bay region.
Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation, the
Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance, the
City of Plant City, and
Tampa Electric Company & Peoples Gas (TECO) all played critical roles in the project to impact the region’s development.
"We’ve committed dedicated resources to identifying new opportunities for the attraction, expansion and retention of jobs in this area. The exciting announcement by Dart Container reinforces the success of that initiative and serves as a milestone for future efforts," says David Pizzo, Tampa Hillsborough EDC Chair.
For more information on career opportunities, visit
Dart Container’s website.
Writer:
Kaye Brown
Sources: Mary Thomas Mathis, City of Plant City; David Pizzo, Tampa Hillsborough EDC
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