Selma plant upgrade expected to impact 1,100 workers as company shifts operations
By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
SELMA, Ala. — A major packaging manufacturer announced this week a $250 million investment to modernize its Riverdale mill in Selma, transforming the plant into a containerboard production facility and reshaping the company’s operations across the Southeast.
The project is expected to impact about 1,100 hourly and salaried workers at the Selma site, which has long been one of the region’s largest employers. At the same time, the company will permanently close its facilities in Savannah and Riceboro, Georgia, consolidating production into fewer, more advanced locations.
A Critical Lifeline for Selma
The Riverdale mill has been an economic anchor for Selma, a majority-Black city where stable jobs have often been hard to come by. With more than 80% of residents identifying as African American, the plant has provided steady employment for generations of Black families.
Local leaders welcomed the investment as a sign of long-term commitment.
“This investment is about more than machines and containerboard,” said one Selma economic development official. “It’s about the hundreds of families in this community who depend on these jobs.”
Jobs and Uncertainty
While the $250 million commitment secures the mill’s future, workers say they are anxious about what “impact” on 1,100 positions means. Modernization often brings automation, which can reduce labor needs even as it improves efficiency.
Some employees say they are relieved the facility is not closing like those in Georgia, but they remain cautious.
“We’re glad the jobs are staying in Selma,” one longtime worker said. “But we want to know if they’re staying for all of us.”
Economic Ripple Effects
Beyond the direct workforce, the upgrades are expected to boost local suppliers, contractors, and service providers tied to the mill’s operations. For Selma—still marked by economic challenges and poverty across the Black Belt—the investment could generate momentum for broader growth.
The facility’s location along key transportation corridors also strengthens its strategic importance as demand for packaging materials continues to grow in the e-commerce era.
Community Response
Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr. praised the announcement as a win for the city.
“This mill has been part of Selma’s story for decades. With this investment, we are securing its future and the future of families who rely on it,” Perkins said.
Community advocates, however, are pressing for transparency.
“Selma’s Black workforce built this plant,” said one local pastor. “We want to make sure modernization doesn’t leave our people behind.”
What’s Next
The company has not released a timeline for upgrades, but officials said the transition to containerboard production will begin soon. If successful, the project could anchor Selma as a long-term hub in the packaging industry.
For now, workers and families are hopeful that the investment will mean not just stronger operations, but a stronger future for Selma.