REAL-TIME NEWS FROM AL.COM

A Canadian packaging company will break ground Monday on a new state-of-the-art facility in Monroeville, Alabama, investing millions of dollars and creating dozens of new jobs. 

Sterling Packaging, which has its headquarters in Manitoba, Canada, is investing $6 million on a new 60,000 sq.ft building at Monroeville Industrial Park. The new venture is expected to create up to 55 new jobs, according to a press release. Sterling is part of a Northport, Alabama-based investment Company known as Druid Capital.

"Once again, our local economy gets another boost thanks to Sterling and Druid Capital's decision to expand in Monroeville," said Monroeville Mayor Joseph Oglesby. Our continued success is attributed to the teamwork of great partners including Governor Ivey, Director Kenneth Boswell and Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Secretary Greg Canfield," among others.

Sterling designs and manufactures folded paper cartons for a number of different industries, including food and beverage, hardware, cosmetic, and pharmaceuticals, and has clients that are large Fortune 500 companies in the U.S. and Canada. The company has also established a sold foothold in the beverage industry manufacturing glass carriers and packaging for craft brewers.

Jim Hickson, President of Sterling Packaging, said, "This great partnership with Druid Capital allows Sterling to expand, and better serve our existing clients, while aggressively growing our business in Canada & the US. We are delighted to be a part of the Monroeville, Alabama business community."

Investment in the project was made possible by a number of state, county and city grants and incentives totaling $3.2 million. 

"As Alabama residents ourselves, we are proud to be involved with a true public/private partnership that will create jobs in our State, and really appreciate all those who made this possible, especially Mayor Joseph Oglesby, Whitney Barlow of the MMCEDA, and Governor Kay Ivey and her staff," said Martin Holt, Managing Partner with Druid Capital. 

Sterling Packaging was founded in 1989 by the husband and wife team of Jim and Debbie Hickson, in the Canadian city of Winnipeg. Initially a commercial printing operation, the company began manufacturing paperboard packaging in 1992. Whether you desire a new product launch, rebranding, or decreasing your environmental impact, Sterling Packaging has the expertise and experience to deliver the most efficient results.