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Petainer Manufacturing Expands in Mt. Pleasant with $10M Investment, Creating 35 New Jobs

Issue #292

06 Dec

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

☀️ Columbia Weather - Sunny with a high of 37 / low of 20

📰 Petainer Manufacturing Expands in Mt. Pleasant with $10M Investment, Creating 35 New Jobs

📰 "Night to Honor" to Remember Homicide Victims in Southern Middle Tennessee

📌 Dec. 10th: Senior Day at Thrift Love

📌 Dec. 6-7: Historic Homes Open Doors for Annual Maury Christmas Tour

👉 Check Out The Ultimate Guide to Holiday Fun in Maury County & More Here

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

⛑ Looking For Ways to Help Victims of Hurricane Helene? Click Here

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Friday, December 6th

Saturday, December 7th

Sunday, December 8th

Monday, December 9th

Tuesday, December 10th

Petainer Manufacturing Expands in Mt. Pleasant with $10M Investment, Creating 35 New Jobs

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and state officials announced that Petainer Manufacturing USA, Inc. will expand its operations with a new facility at 315 Joe Frank Porter Drive in Mt. Pleasant. The $10 million investment will bring 35 new jobs to Cherry Glen Industrial Park, doubling Petainer’s workforce in Tennessee.

“What happens in rural Tennessee matters to all Tennesseans, and I thank Petainer for choosing to invest in the Volunteer State,” Gov. Lee said. “Petainer’s commitment to creating new jobs for the highly skilled workers in Mt. Pleasant and Maury County will have a significant impact by expanding opportunity for families in the region.”

The Cherry Glen Industrial Park, a Select Tennessee Certified Site, continues to attract investment, and Mt. Pleasant Mayor Bill White expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort behind the project. “Development at Cherry Glen Industrial Park continues to grow and flourish. We appreciate the high-quality jobs that Petainer is bringing to the community,” White said.

Petainer, a global leader in lightweight, sustainable PET packaging, produces recyclable and BPA-free products such as water cooler bottles, kegs, wine bottles, and preforms for on-site blowing. These products are distributed across the U.S., Canada, and Latin America.

“Our investment in Mt. Pleasant underscores Petainer’s commitment to supporting sustainable growth in the Americas,” said Chris McEwan, President of Petainer Americas. “This strategic location allows us to better serve our customers, expand our portfolio, and continue delivering innovative, eco-friendly packaging solutions that reduce environmental impact while driving economic development in the region.”

Since 2020, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) has facilitated 15 economic development projects in Maury County, generating more than 3,700 job commitments and nearly $5 billion in capital investments.

TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter highlighted the significance of Petainer’s decision to grow in Tennessee. “Petainer could have chosen any one of its global locations to expand; however, this company chose Tennessee, which is a testament to the state’s skilled workforce, strong business climate, and the overall quality of life experienced here,” McWhorter said.

Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt noted the long-term potential of the project for the region. “Team Maury is excited to announce Petainer’s expansion. Increasing the footprint of existing industry is one of our economic development goals. This expansion in Cherry Glen Industrial Park, with the potential of becoming Petainer’s North American Headquarters, is a good step in that direction,” Butt said.

Petainer, which established operations in Tennessee in 2022, continues to prioritize sustainability while supporting local economic growth.

"Night to Honor" to Remember Homicide Victims in Southern Middle Tennessee

The District Attorney’s Office is preparing to host the fifth annual "Night to Honor" ceremony, a solemn event to honor and remember victims of homicide in Maury, Lawrence, Wayne, and Giles counties. The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at First Baptist Church in Lawrenceburg, located at 2100 Springer Road.

Guests are encouraged to arrive by 5:30 p.m. for registration, with the program beginning promptly at 6 p.m. The evening provides an opportunity for families and friends of homicide victims to gather in remembrance during the challenging holiday season.

This year’s guest speaker, Norma Castro, will share her personal story. Castro’s brother, Juan Castro, was tragically murdered on April 13, 2008, in Columbia following a quinceañera. Four individuals were tried and convicted for his murder.

A highlight of the ceremony is the placement of memorial ornaments. Participants will hang ornaments on one of four wreaths, each representing a county where a loved one’s life was lost to violent crime. Following the event, the wreaths will be displayed at their respective county courthouses throughout the holiday season.

The event is open to all family members and friends who have lost loved ones to homicide. To participate, attendees are encouraged to RSVP by Dec. 5, 2024, by emailing Kendra Cannon at [email protected]. Families are also invited to bring a personal ornament in remembrance of their loved one and email a photo to be included in the ceremony.

For additional details, contact the District Attorney’s Office at (931) 766-1453, ext. 6107, or visit the Facebook page for Brent Cooper, District Attorney-22nd Judicial District.

Dec. 10th: Senior Day at Thrift Love

Calling all seniors (60+)! Join us on Tuesday, December 10th at ThriftLOVE for Senior Day—a day dedicated to celebrating YOU! 

Enjoy 10% off your purchase, festive prizes, cookies, and even a visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus! Doors open at 9:00 AM. Groups welcome—let’s make it a day to remember!

1116 Nashville Hwy 103, Columbia

Dec. 6-7: Historic Homes Open Doors for Annual Maury Christmas Tour

A favorite Maury County tradition, dating back to the 1950s, returns December 6th and 7th – the Maury Christmas Historic Home Tour.

During the historic home tour, a variety of public and private homes will open their doors to guests during this weekend event. One $25 ticket gives tour-goers access to all the tour sites. Tour hours are 9am- 4pm December 6th and 7th.

The tour is a fund-raiser for the Athenaeum in Columbia, Tennessee. The proceeds of this tour ensure that the Athenaeum will be able to operate for another year. Typically, the proceeds of this tour are enough to fund the historic site’s yearly operating costs, with a few dollars left over for ongoing restoration work.

The Athenaeum is owned and operated by the Maury County Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities (APTA).

Tickets can be purchased in advance at ticket locations and will be available through December 7th.

In-person ticket locations include:

Tour Headquarters: The Athenaeum
(Open by appointment only. On December 6th & 7th, open 8a to 4p.)
808 Athenaeum Street
Columbia, TN 38401

The Maury County Visitor’s Center
(Open Monday through Friday 8a to 4p. Location will not be open Saturday, December 7th)
302 W. 7th Street
Columbia, TN 38401

Historic Elm Springs
(Open Monday through Friday 8a to 4p. Open Saturday, December 7th for tickets)
2357 Park Plus Drive
Columbia, TN 38401

Learn more by visiting www.maurychristmas.org.

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Friday, December 6th

Scott Southworth & The Honky Tonk Anonymous Band, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM

Saturday, December 7th

TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 4-7 PM
Karli & James, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
World Turning Band, The Mulehouse, 8 PM

Sunday, December 8th

TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard1-4 PM
County Community Band, Cherry Theater - CSCC, 3 PM
Still Rollin’, The Rebel, 4 PM
Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

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