YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – As Kimberly-Clark Corp. prepares to start construction on an $800 million plant in Trumbull County, potential partners already are reaching out to the local JobsOhio district that is serving as a point of contact.
Consumer products giant Kimberly-Clark announced plans May 1 to build a 1 million-plus-square-foot plant on land in Warren and Howland townships, with work to get underway this month.
“The plant will not only be our second largest in the U.S., but we’re proud it will also be state-of-the-art,” a Kimberly-Clark spokesperson said.
“That means it will be equipped with some of the latest technologies to improve employees’ day-to-day experiences, enhance efficiency and enable us to manufacture new and improved, next-generation consumer products,” the spokesperson continued. “This will help Kimberly-Clark continue to adapt quickly to meet changing consumer demand.”
Lake to River Economic Development, a JobsOhio district created a year ago to focus on Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana and Ashtabula counties, is serving as a point of contact for regional vendors interested in working with Kimberly-Clark.
So far, 12 local companies have reached out to Lake to River about working with the company, said Sarah Boyarko, Lake to River’s vice president, economic development. That includes four that contacted the organization before the May 1 announcement but does not include ones that might have contacted other local economic development partners, including the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and Western Reserve Port Authority.
“We look forward to partnering with local specialists and vendors as specific needs are identified over the next few years,” the Kimberly-Clark spokesperson said.
“We’ve received quite a few construction-related inquiries,” Boyarko said. Accounting, human resources, food service and logistics companies also have reached out. She also said someone from Lake to River is in touch with Kimberly-Clark at least once a week, whether it’s her on the economic development side or Matt Falter, director of talent engagement.
Among the positions the company expects to hire for are ones in engineering, management and administration. Location and workforce were two key draws for the company, according to the company spokesperson.
“With an estimated 500 jobs to be created, the Warren plant will offer a range of opportunities that will train team members on the latest technology, providing them with job skills for the future,” the spokesperson said.
Pictured at top: A rendering of Kimberly-Clark’s proposed facility in Trumbull County.