International Paper (NYSE: IP) held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new corrugated packaging facility in Rankin County, Mississippi, according to a company statement. The $225 million project will construct a 468,000-square-foot plant on an 80-acre site in the East Metro Center.

The facility, located less than 10 miles from International Paper's existing Richland box plant, is scheduled to begin construction in June 2026 with operations expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2027. Employees from the existing Richland facility will transition to the new plant upon completion.

The company stated the facility will create 150 manufacturing jobs. "This groundbreaking represents an important step forward for International Paper, our customers, and the communities we serve across the Mid-South," said Keith Townsend, group vice president and general manager of IP North America Packaging Solutions East.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves attended the ceremony, calling it "another example of Mississippi's 'insane execution speed' and how much momentum our state has." The governor noted the announcement of the investment occurred two months prior to the groundbreaking.

Noel Daniels, Chairman of the Rankin First Economic Development Authority, described the investment as securing "150 high-quality manufacturing jobs for our workforce" and positioning "Rankin County as the premier hub for industrial investments in Mississippi and the Southeast."

The new facility will be served by CPKC Railway, providing transportation connections across North America. CPKC Senior Vice President Coby Bullard said the partnership "highlights the benefits of integrated supply chain alignment" through the railway's network.

International Paper stated the facility will incorporate manufacturing safety, automation, and operational efficiency technologies as part of the company's corrugated packaging operations.