Huhtamaki's $85M+ Expansion Adds 80 Jobs in Paris

Huhtamaki, a Finnish global packaging company, is expanding its existing manufacturing facility at 800 West Center Street in Paris, Texas with a project exceeding $85 million in capital investment. The expansion adds approximately 400,000 square feet of production and operational space to the site, which manufactures folding cartons for quick-service restaurant customers across North America.

The project is expected to create 80 new manufacturing jobs in the community, with initial production from the expanded facility beginning in the first quarter of 2025. The Paris location was selected for the expansion due to its existing infrastructure, workforce availability, and proximity to regional logistics corridors.

Why Paris was chosen

Huhtamaki's decision to expand in Paris rather than relocating to a larger metro area reflects several competitive advantages. The city offers lower operational costs, available industrial land, an established manufacturing workforce, and strong transportation connectivity via US 82 and US 271. The presence of Paris Junior College and regional workforce development partnerships, including those facilitated by the Paris Economic Development Corporation, provides a pipeline of trained workers for advanced manufacturing roles.

The expansion also benefits from the broader infrastructure investments underway in Lamar County, including the TxDOT Paris District headquarters, the wastewater treatment plant upgrade, and the highway widening projects on US 271 and US 82. These investments collectively signal that Paris is scaling its capacity to support industrial growth, not just maintaining it.

What it means for commercial property

Manufacturing expansions create multiplier effects. Eighty new factory jobs generate demand for nearby housing, retail spending, food service, and professional services. Workers need places to live, shop, and eat. For commercial property owners in Paris, particularly those with flexible-use buildings in Multi-Family Dwelling Districts, the Huhtamaki expansion is a direct demand driver. The employees and their families support the kind of daily commercial activity that drives lease demand and long-term property appreciation.

More broadly, Huhtamaki's investment is evidence that Paris competes on fundamentals, not just incentives. Global companies do not commit $85 million to facilities in markets they expect to decline. The expansion joins the TxDOT headquarters, the Zelestra solar portfolio, and the Amazon delivery station as proof that Lamar County is attracting the kind of capital that reshapes local economies over decades, not quarters.