Glass Container Manufacturer Owens-Illinois to Invest $20 Million Upgrading Plant in Virginia

Glass container manufacturer Owens-Illinois, Inc. plans to invest $20 million to upgrade equipment at its manufacturing plant here. The facility improvements, made possible through a public-private collaboration, will take place during the next 12 to 24 months, according to an announcement from the office of Governor Timothy Kaine.

The company - which supplies food, beer, wine, spirits and non-alcoholic beverage makers - employs 180 people at the James City County plant. Charles Cochrane, manager of the James City County plant, said the upgrades will help us keep the plant one of O-I's more cost-efficient facilities.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with James City County to secure the project for Virginia. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training assistance for O-I's 180-member workforce through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. The funds will be used to re-train existing employees on the new, upgraded equipment.

O-I's James City County plant opened on February 29, 1980, in Hankins Industrial Park in the County's Stonehouse District.

Headquartered in Perrysburg, Ohio, and established in 1903, the company employs more than 23,000 people with 80 manufacturing facilities in 22 countries. For more information about the company visit