Cheer Pack North America LLC, a focused solution provider for brand owners looking at production capabilities for their spouted flexible packaging requirements, is planning to relocate its manufacturing facility from Plymouth, Massachusetts to One United Drive in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts as part of a major capital expansion. The relocation and expansion project will result in the retention of Cheer Pack's current 35 employees and the addition of 75 new manufacturing jobs resulting in 110 new jobs in the town of West Bridgewater. The company plans to lease 187,500 s.f. in the industrial building, which has a total floor space 315,000 s.f. and has been largely unoccupied for the last couple of years. Cheer Pack develops and manufactures proprietary spouted pouch packaging for the food and beverage industries. According to Steve Gosling, President of Cheer Pack, "The demand for our unique food packaging products has grown tremendously resulting in the need to substantially increase our capacity. It is an exciting opportunity for the company, the town of West Bridgewater, and the entire southeastern Massachusetts region."
The company plans to make an investment of approximately $23 million over the next five years in building renovations and the purchase and installation of machinery and equipment. According to Mark Kasberg, Treasurer of Cheer Pack, "The building renovations and a significant portion of the machinery and equipment installation will be completed in the first year of the project. We hope to move into the building and commence operations in the second quarter of 2012." It is expected that all of the 35 employees working in Cheer Pack's Plymouth facility will continue to work at the new West Bridgewater location, which is 26 miles away.
"There is still a significant amount of work to be done over the next several weeks before the long-term lease is signed and the plan becomes final," said Rod Jané of New England Expansion Strategies, project consultant for Cheer Pack North America. The company is working with town officials and boards to obtain permits for the project. Additionally, the company and the town are exploring the possibility of Tax Increment Financing, as well as investment tax credits from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through the Economic Development Incentives Program. West Bridgewater joined the Brockton area Economic Target Area in 2004 for the purpose of being able to offer state and local benefits for job creating projects like the Cheer Pack project. "In order to earn these benefits, the company will have to commit to job creation and investment goals and deliver on those goals," said Jané. He added that "the West Bridgewater town officials and boards have been absolutely great to work with. They have been responsive and very helpful. This is clearly a business friendly town."
