(Fieldale, VA) – Henry County officials were on hand yesterday for the announcement of an expansion at Eastman Chemical.  The $7.7 million investment will add production space at its Patriot Centre facilities and warehouse functions will move into the former Stanley Furniture facility in Bowles Park.

 

Officials with Eastman say these additions will help the company meet it’s growing demand.  Eastman currently employs close to 800 people in Henry County and while this expansion doesn’t add any jobs immediately, it does set the company up for future growth.

 

 

Travis Smith, vice president and general manager of Eastman’s Performance Films business said of the expansion, “Our continued investments further solidify Eastman’s commitment to the window and paint protection films markets and to making our manufacturing site in Henry County a state-of-the-art facility that produces the world’s highest quality films products.”

 

Eastman is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program as well as local EZ benefits from Henry County.  The county also is investing a $200,000 grant to assist with the development.