CSX Select Site Program Helps Bring $425 Million Dixie Plant to Fruition

October 18, 2024 - Georgia-Pacific and the community of Jackson, Tenn., recently celebrated the opening a new Dixie paper products manufacturing facility, thanks in part to the CSX Select Site program. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place October 9.

The $425 million plant will have a significant economic impact on the area, adding hundreds of jobs to the local economy. The project is the result of years of partnership between CSX and both Georgia-Pacific and Jackson officials.

Working closely with Jackson officials and Georgia-Pacific, the CSX Industrial Development team helped identify a site that met the company’s needs for infrastructure, rail access, utilities, and a skilled workforce. The CSX team served as a connector and liaison between Georgia-Pacific and the local community, facilitating discussions to make the project a reality. “It takes an entire team to bring a project like the Dixie plant to fruition,” said Rashard Howard, CSX Director of Industrial Development.

The new Dixie plant spans an impressive 900,000 square feet on 240 acres and will produce Dixie paper plates and bowls. Once fully operational, the facility will employ approximately 220 people, making a lasting impact on Jackson and Madison County's economy. 

Beyond job creation, the plant is expected to bolster the area’s reputation as a manufacturing hub, attracting more businesses to the region. The area is well-known for its excellent education system and its highly skilled workforce, key factors that companies look for when deciding where to build manufacturing facilities.

Mandy White, Chief Economic Development Officer for the Greater Jackson Chamber, said CSX was vital to connecting her community to Georgia-Pacific.

“The Select Site program allows us to validate what we already know,” she said. “That this is a great site, easy to develop, accessible by rail, and ready to serve a company like Georgia-Pacific.”

Launched over a decade ago, the CSX Select Site program is the first of its kind in the rail industry. With a database of over 1,000 possible development sites, it helps manufacturers looking to relocate or build new facilities. The program also assists community leaders in marketing their sites to potential investors.

“Our CSX Select Site program has been crucial in helping communities quickly land customers on shovel-ready, certified sites that require rail,” Howard explained. 

The collaboration between Georgia-Pacific, CSX, and the city of Jackson is a testament to the power of strategic partnerships and well-planned site development.

For over a decade, CSX has been a key partner in Jackson’s economic development efforts. With CSX’s help, the city has secured $1.9 billion in investments and added over 4,000 jobs in the past five years alone. White said that wouldn’t have been possible without CSX’s collaboration. 

“We are extremely grateful for the partnership we have had with CSX and look forward to continuing to work with their team,” she concluded.

View the video below for more information about CSX’s collaboration on Dixie paper products plant in Jackson. For more on the CSX Select Site program, visit CSX.com/selectsites.