PaperWorks Industries will build three new warehouses at its Wabash mill as part of a $2.8 million expansion project, according to plant manager Chris Wetherford.
The paper mill, located just off Canal Street at 455 Factory St., spends about $3.2 million each year to rent warehouses in Fort Wayne, Huntington and Indianapolis due to a lack of space in Wabash, which has maxed its warehouse capacity far below the industry standard at 3,400 tons, Wetherford explained.
Additionally, transporting product between the Wabash mill and regional warehouses has caused logistical problems that Wetherford hopes to solve with extra onsite warehouse space.
This is the second expansion undertaken by PaperWorks at its Wabash facility in recent years.
Last year, PaperWorks upgraded one of the mill lines at its Wabash plant with $7.125 million worth of new equipment. The company received a 10-year phased-in tax break to complete the project, which is still in effect.
The expansion will require the City of Wabash to vacate portions of South Comstock Street and Edsall Street, commonly known as Factory Street, both of which will have increased traffic from PaperWorks.
Wetherford met with the Wabash City Council on Monday to make that request, which was approved unanimously on first reading and will be considered again at the next meeting.
Copyright © 2024 Wabash Plain Dealer