Blue Ridge Fiberboard to reopen Knight-Celotex plant in Danville

Great news for Danville today!

From our friends at Danville’s Office of Economic Development…

DANVILLE – Construction products industry leader W. R. MEADOWS, INC. today announced the formation of a new subsidiary, Blue Ridge Fiberboard, Inc., to resume the manufacturing of Celotex® branded fiberboard products in Danville. The company made the announcement following its purchase of Knight-Celotex which filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in June of 2009. By the time the company is fully operational, it will employ 88 full time people.

Blue Ridge Fiberboard, Inc. is already preparing for the re-opening of the Celotex® plant in Danville. Actual manufacturing operations are expected to begin in December at the former Knight-Celotex plant. Chairman H.G. Meadows stated, “W. R. MEADOWS, INC. is pleased to be in a position to launch Blue Ridge Fiberboard, Inc. and re-open the Celotex® plant in Danville at a time when many businesses are struggling. As an 80-plus-year-old family-owned and operated company, we are equally pleased to welcome back many former plant employees. We know the quality and experience of the workforce will be an important contributing factor to Blue Ridge Fiberboard, Inc.’s overall success.”

Founded by W. R. “Bob” Meadows in 1926 in Elgin, Illinois, W. R. MEADOWS is a family-owned and operated company that has built a coveted reputation for product quality, company integrity and customer service among building professionals in both private and public construction markets. W. R. MEADOWS has multiple branch locations throughout North America and its products are available worldwide. According to H.G. Meadows, Blue Ridge Fiberboard, Inc. will manufacture Celotex®
products such as Structodek® roofing insulation board, SoundStop® fiberboard panels, SturdyBrace® structural wall sheathing and VersaKor® all-purpose fiberboard in Danville. Job seekers who are interested in applying for positions with Blue Ridge Fiberboard can obtain an application on site at the plant in Danville.

Mayor Sherman Saunders exclaimed, “We are truly excited that Blue Ridge Fiberboard is choosing to re-open the Danville Celotex® plant. The company had the ppportunity to choose between plants in Louisiana, Maine, or Pennsylvania, but was convinced we have the best business climate for the company to be successful. We can offer good employees and a “can do” attitude that is hard to beat. When we work together, Danville is a formidable team.”

The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved up to $300,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds. On behalf of the Tobacco Commission, Delegate Danny Marshall stated, “The announcement that Blue Ridge Fiberboard, Inc. plans to immediately resume the manufacture of Celotex® brand products in Danville is an early Christmas present for our region. The new company is scheduled to bring jobs, re-hire trained employees and start production in
December. The Tobacco Commission is pleased to have invested $300,000 toward the re-opening of a plant. This investment was one of the quickest ways to create jobs and bring the early Christmas present of more employment opportunities to our area.”

Working with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the City of Danville was able to secure the project for Virginia. The company is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, because it is locating in a Virginia Enterprise Zone. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training assistance through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

This is a great development that may finally convince skeptical people that Danville is actively recruiting businesses.

(Am I the only one who stills calls this place the “gypsum” plant?) 😉