LONGVIEW, TX – March 25, 2024 – The Longview Economic Development Corporation (LEDCO) today joined Eastman in announcing that Longview, Texas was named as the location for its second U.S. molecular recycling facility. This facility will mark the single largest capital investment in the Longview area in LEDCO history.
LEDCO’s strong focus on legacy industry relationships helped to facilitate Eastman’s interest in locating their expansion at their existing site in Longview. Because Eastman’s impact stretches throughout the region, LEDCO brought in local and state partners including the City of Longview, Harrison County, Marshall Economic Development Corporation, the Hallsville ISD Board and Governor Greg Abbott to collaborate and develop an incentive package to support the new investment at the Longview site.
According to Eastman officials, the Longview site was selected due to synergies with existing infrastructure and operations, favorable energy supply and footprint and access to western and central U.S. feedstock pools. The location also provides enough space for onsite renewable energy. The investment includes operations that will prepare mixed plastic waste for processing, Eastman’s next-generation molecular recycling unit to depolymerize waste, and a polymer facility to create virgin-quality materials for packaging and textiles. The Longview molecular recycling facility will have the capacity to recycle approximately 110,000 metric tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastic waste.
In addition to its advances for consumers around the world, Eastman has maintained a significant beneficial impact on the East Texas region since its presence in Longview was established in 1952. The company is deeply integrated into the region through active community involvement as well as through partnerships with local school districts and higher education programs which have aided greatly in workforce development for the greater East Texas region. The Longview plant has also dedicated years to diversifying its workforce, promoting women into traditionally male-dominated fields and providing higher-quality opportunities for its employees. The Longview facility currently employs over 1,500 employees and this new investment is expected to add over 200 full-time, high-paying jobs to that number.
“We are excited to announce this next step in our commitment to our circular strategy with the decision to locate our second U.S. molecular recycling facility at our existing site in Texas. We have decades of history successfully operating in Longview, and this will be a great investment for the local community. We deeply appreciate the support of Governor Abbott and the State of Texas for its continued collaboration as we announce this large investment at our Longview facility. We are excited to work with the State and continue our legacy in Texas for generations to come by building this world-scale plant that will remove significant plastic waste from the region and create true circularity all while setting a new benchmark for decarbonization.” Mark Costa, Eastman Board Chair and CEO
“I am thrilled with the announcement of Eastman’s plans to make such a large investment at their Longview facility. Out of all the places in the United States, they chose us and for that, I could not be more grateful. This new facility will bring around 200 full-time high-paying jobs to the community and approximately 1,000 temporary construction jobs during the building process who will be eating at our restaurants, staying in our hotels and providing an overall economic boom to our economy. I applaud the hard work of [our regional partners] for creatively working together to partner with Eastman to better our community and region for decades to come. Without Governor Abbott’s advocacy and continued support for Longview, I am certain this project would never have come to fruition.” Andy Mack, Mayor of Longview
"East Texas has a reason to celebrate today. Eastman has been a foundational business in Harrison County since the 1950s. Over the years Eastman has not only been a great community partner, supporter of other businesses, schools and our youth but also provided a livelihood for many families. Today's announcement of a significant expansion at their current site in Longview gives communities in Gregg and Harrison Counties hope for many more generations of Eastman employees. Join me and the Harrison County Commissioners as we welcome this Eastman expansion to our community. We look forward to the continued success of Eastman well into the future." Chad Simms, Harrison County Judge
“It’s with the greatest appreciation to the decision makers of Eastman for their choice of Longview, Texas to expand their company. This is a game changer for East Texas!!” Bill Stoudt, Gregg County Judge
“It’s been my sincere honor to work with the Eastman team to bring this world-class molecular recycling investment to Longview. This is an economic development win for our East Texas communities. My sincere thanks to our Governor, Greg Abbott, for his leadership on this project and again helping to bring a great opportunity to the State of Texas.” Jay Dean, State Representative
“Eastman is a longstanding institution in Longview, TX, and we are more than honored that they have chosen the Longview site for their newest expansion project. Nothing gives us more pride than when a legacy industry recognizes the assets of our workforce, our infrastructure, and our overall business climate by choosing to make new investments in our community. The confidence Eastman has in our region is revered and our partnership will continue to grow to new heights as they integrate the circular economy into the heart of Longview. I can speak on behalf of the Longview Economic Development Board and LEDCO team that we are proud of the partnership that we share with Eastman and our community partners.” Wayne Mansfield, LEDCO President/CEO
About Eastman
Founded in 1920, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. The company’s innovation-driven growth model takes advantage of world-class technology platforms, deep customer engagement, and differentiated application development to grow its leading positions in attractive end markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. As a globally inclusive and diverse company, Eastman employs approximately 14,000 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company had 2023 revenue of approximately $9.2 billion and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA. For more information, visit www.eastman.com.