A major glass manufacturer chose Martinsville-Henry County, VA when opening a new facility in the Commonwealth. In 2018, the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission helped bring the company, Press Glass, to Southern Virginia by awarding a Tobacco Region opportunity Fund (TROF) grant of $835,000 which helped them open the initial 270,000 square foot facility.

The facility is one of the most modern in the U.S., designed to incorporate automated systems to reduce manual glass handling, according to Karolina Styk from Press Glass.

Since 2019, they have created 298 jobs across production, maintenance, quality and logistics departments with an average salary of $46,700. They have also invested in leadership training for employees.

“The funding has enabled us to forge numerous partnerships and connections with local organizations,” Styk said. “We have collaborated closely with Patrick & Henry Community College on training programs for our employees, promoting internships and organizing plant tours for their students.”

In 2023, Press Glass invested $155 million to expand the existing facility with a 360,000-square-foot addition. The expansion will create 335 more jobs and more than double the company’s staff size.

“With 22.3% of the Martinsville-Henry County workforce employed in manufacturing, this sector is integral for our economy,” said Mark Heath, president of Martinsville-Henry County economic development corporation. “The new jobs and substantial investment from Press Glass will bolster our economic stability and attract further business ventures, further strengthening our community as a manufacturing hub.”

This expansion means more than just job creation. It represents an economic boost for the Martinsville-Henry community, attracting more businesses, investments and long-term economic stability.