FLORIDA (From news reports) -- Local leaders and community members gathered Friday morning for a groundbreaking ceremony at a Palatka paper mill to mark the start of the construction of a new multi-million-dollar warehouse at the facility.

Georgia-Pacific leaders said the company's $83 million expansion is designed to increase product storage capacity, improve shipping efficiency and introduce advanced automation technology to enhance productivity and safety at the site.

Construction of the new 400,000-square-foot warehouse building, which is expected to take about a year, is the second phase of a larger project already underway at the mill. Phase 1 included construction of a 36-acre trailer yard with space for 574 trailers, along with a new inspection station and an entrance on County Road 216 designed to improve truck traffic flow to the mill.

Chris Gent, GP's Palatka head of strategic communications, said the expansion is part of the company's long-term plan to modernize the Palatka operation, which has seen multiple upgrades to its paper machines and converting operations over the past decade.

"This investment represents our commitment to the Palatka mill and to the people who make this operation successful every day," Gent said. "Projects like this help us improve how we move products to customers while continuing to support the community we've been part of for generations."

Vin Webster, the vice president of manufacturing at the Palatka mill, said the project reflects GP's commitment to keeping the facility competitive while continuing to support the community where it operates.

"Our vision is to improve the lives of our employees, our neighbors, our community and our partners," Webster said during the ceremony. "The work that happens here reaches far beyond what you see at this site. The products we make reach tens of millions of households across the United States."

The Palatka mill manufactures paper products sold under brands like Angel Soft, Quilted Northern, Brawny and Sparkle.

Local leaders said the facility's economic importance extends far beyond the mill's production lines.

Board of County Commissioners Chairwoman Leota Wilkinson told ceremony attendees that GP remains a cornerstone of the local economy.

"As Putnam County's largest private employer, Georgia-Pacific supports more than 1,030 employees and over 2,400 indirect jobs," Wilkinson said. "The impact of this mill reaches far beyond our county."

Wilkinson said the Palatka facility plays a vital role not only in Putnam County's economy but also in the broader manufacturing supply chain throughout Florida and the Southeast.

Wilkinson highlighted the company's role as a community partner, saying GP supports local groups.

"In 2025 alone, Georgia-Pacific donated more than $100,000 in grants to local nonprofits, along with product donations that support organizations helping residents throughout our community," Wilkinson said. "We are grateful for their continued investment in our county and in our people."

Laura Pavlus, president of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, said the company has been a part of the county for decades, opening in 1947 as Hudson Pulp and Paper Co.

"Georgia-Pacific is our largest employer by employee count, and their average wage is almost twice the county average," Pavlus said. "Not only do they directly contribute a large number of high-wage jobs to the community, but there are also thousands of ancillary jobs created because of those primary jobs."

Pavlus said the company's continued expansion sends a message to other businesses considering locating in Putnam County.

"Their expansion is hugely impactful to the overall economy and the quality of life in our community," she said. "It shows that companies with global reach see Putnam County as a place where they can be successful."

She pointed to the county's growing transportation infrastructure as an important factor in supporting industrial growth in the region. The Palatka mill benefits from access to major highways, nearby interstate routes, rail service and the Putnam County Barge Port along the St. Johns River.

"These types of investments reinforce the idea that Putnam County is well-positioned for manufacturing, logistics and distribution," Pavlus said.

Friday's ceremony began with an invocation from Pastor Steve Burkowske of Open Door Church of God, who reflected on the long relationship between the mill and the surrounding community.

Burkowske prayed for the safety of workers who will construct the facility and asked that the project continue to bring opportunities to families throughout the region.

"For generations, the mill has been a cornerstone of this community, providing jobs, supporting families and contributing to the economic life of Putnam County," Burkowske said. "Projects like this represent more than steel and concrete; they represent confidence in a community and opportunity for families."

Webster said the new warehouse represents more than just a logistics improvement.

"This expansion allows us to continue providing the products people rely on every day," he said, "while continuing to invest in the employees and the community that make this operation possible."