Consider the Carolinas » Industry Site Selection and Relocation » Pulp and Paper Mill Site Selection

Pulp and Paper Mill Site Selection

More and more businesses are choosing the Carolinas for pulp and paper mill site selection. Over $4.8 billion in pulp and paper manufacturing revenues are shipped from the Carolinas each year, placing the Carolinas third in the industry for dollars shipped.

Duke Energy offers one of the most powerful site selection tools available. For companies involved in pulp and paper manufacturing site selection work, the tool is designed to: Evaluate the demographics, wages, labor pool, transportation system, as well as search for sites, buildings, suppliers, competitors or customers throughout North or South Carolina.

Industry Presence

Companies can be assured that the Carolinas are a viable option when evaluating for pulp and paper manufacturing. Many companies in the pulp and paper industry call the Carolinas home:

  • International Paper
  • Georgia-Pacific
  • Kimberly-Clark
  • MeadWestvaco
  • Bowater
  • Weyerhaeuser.

Over $4.8 billion in pulp and paper industry revenues are shipped from the Carolinas each year, placing us third in the industry for dollars shipped.

Access to Timber and Paper

Critical criteria required by companies involved in pulp and paper mill site selection include the availability of natural resources and supplies. The Carolinas offer abundant timber and paper for use in pulp and paper manufacturing, as well as converted paper manufacturing plants.

Timberland (thousands of acres)

  • North Carolina—18,664
  • South Carolina—12,301

Paper Production (thousands of tons per year)

  • North Carolina—1,058
  • South Carolina—1,989

Incentives/Tax Advantages

To demonstrate North Carolinas’ commitment to pulp and paper manufacturing site selection, the North Carolina General Assembly made significant enhancements to its existing incentive tools:

  • The Jobs Development Investment Grant, a key incentive tool, was expanded to 25 grants per year, and the cap was raised from $10 to $15 million, extended to 2006.
  • An additional $20 million was secured for the One North Carolina Fund (cash incentives).
  • The wage test was eliminated for Industrial Revenue Bonds.

South Carolina has one of the most attractive tax climates in the Southeast—no state property tax, no local income tax, no inventory tax, no wholesale tax, and no unitary tax on worldwide profits.

Reliable and Affordable Energy

Duke Energy has highly qualified energy experts and site consultants who can assist in any pulp and paper manufacturing site selection project. The service is free and confidential.

Quality Workforce and Competitive Wages

The Carolinas profited from the presence of the textile industry for many years. As this industry continued to move its operations off shore, many highly-skilled manufacturing employees were left behind. Companies in the process of pulp and paper manufacturing site selection in the Carolinas have a ready pool of talented and affordable workforce.

  • Affordable wages is a significant criteria for pulp and paper manufacturing site selection. The average manufacturing wage in the Carolinas is $13.20 per hour vs. $18.10 per hour nationwide.
  • The Carolinas’ 75-campus Community College System has emerged as one of the largest in the nation and is recognized as the national leader for its support of economic work force development and training. Companies involved in pulp and paper manufacturing site selection should evaluate the assistance available to them through programs such as ISO 9000, Total Quality Management, Team Building, Supervisory Development Training, Statistical Process Control and World Class Concepts.
  • North Carolina and South Carolina have the lowest union membership rates among the fifty states, 3.6 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively.

Superior Transportation Infrastructure

A sufficient transportation system is critical for pulp and paper manufacturing site selection. The Carolinas are centrally located on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. and have a robust transportation network.

  • Four Class I railroads with 37 freight lines operate over 5,500 miles of track throughout the Carolinas.
  • The Carolinas recognize the importance of suitable roadways when being considered for pulp and paper manufacturing site selection. Crisscrossed with 6 major interstates (I-85, I-26, I-77, I-95, I-20 and I-40) and over 140,000 miles of highway, the Carolinas are linked to seaports, businesses and consumers in all directions. Approximately 96 percent of N.C. has access to four-lane highways within 10 minutes.
  • Five deep water ports, specializing in intermodal system terminals with interstate and rail access to markets throughout the U.S., are located in the Carolinas. N.C. was the first port operated inland container staging and storage facility in the nation. S.C. is the fourth largest container port in the U.S.
  • Charleston ranked 30th for tonnage transported across its transportation network (30 Million Short Tons).
  • Seven international airports (Charlotte-Douglas, Piedmont Triad, Raleigh/Durham, Wilmington, Greenville-Spartanburg, Charleston, and Myrtle Beach International), along with nine regional airports, provide a global gateway to and from the Carolinas.

Environmental Permitting

For companies that anticipate permitting to be a risk in their pulp and paper manufacturing site selection efforts, the Carolinas have environmental programs to assist companies in moving through the process quickly.

  • Pro-business environment
  • Quick turnaround for most applicants (average 6 weeks)
  • In line with federal standards