New Owners of Duluth Paper Plant Propose to Expand Facility

DULUTH, Minn. — A new company that has taken over the reigns of the vacant paper mill along I-35 and is planning to expand operations.

Sofidel American Corp hopes to build four new buildings, adding nearly 600,000 square feet to the infrastructure of the Duluth facility.

It would likely double workforce and triple the production plants footprint. The project could cost up to $250 million.

Sofidel says the expansion could provide an additional 160 jobs to the community.

The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce says it supports the expansion, as it would help grow the economy.

“They know we have a good workforce here. They know they can hopefully work with the city, certainly the Chamber and other community partners to help support their expansion and support them as a business community as well. Because we know that in the long term that benefits everybody in this community, it benefits our economy and certainly benefits our long-term economy as well,” said Daniel Fanning, Vice President of The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce.

Sofidel is an Italy-based tissue paper manufacturer and acquired the Duluth plant earlier this year.