HENDERSON, Ky. (From news reports) -- Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear will join three top company executives when Pratt Paper ceremonially breaks ground Thursday afternoon for the $400 million, 320-employee recycled paper mill complex it will build of Henderson's south side.

The ceremony will take place at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, at the 200-acre site at 6300 Kentucky 425/South Bypass between U.S. 60-West and U.S. 41-Alternate.

The public is invited, but Henderson Economic Development cautioned that a self-administered Covid-19 test will be required before people are permitted to enter. Testing will begin at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the site, so attendees are encouraged to arrive early.

In addition to Beshear, special guests from Pratt Industries/Visy will include Global Executive Chairman Anthony Pratt, Global CEO Brian McPheely and Gary Byrd, president of Pratt Holdings, which is the parent company for all of Pratt's interests in the United States.

Pratt last summer said it will first construct a state-of-the-art, 450,000-square-foot paper mill that will manufacture 100% recycled products and will employ approximately 120 people. At the time, the company said construction of the mill would begin in March 2022 and be completed by fall 2023.

The company said it will later construct a 700,000-square-foot corrugator plant to produce corrugated sheet and boxes, including pizza boxes and packaging for major distributors and big box stores, using paper sourced from the new paper mill. The corrugator plant will employ 200 people.

The corrugator facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and employ approximately 200 people once fully operational.

The company said the jobs will pay wages averaging nearly $30 per hour. Counting benefits, it said compensation with average $39 per hour.

Company leaders also expect the project to require 700 construction workers over the coming years.
Beshear has called Pratt the biggest economic development announcement in Western Kentucky in 25 years.