Wallboard manufacturing plant planned for Wheatland County expected to create more than 100 jobs

Construction of a $210-million wallboard manufacturing plant in Wheatland County east of Calgaryis expected to begin next year, resulting in more than 100 manufacturing jobs upon completion.

CGC Inc., the Canadian division of the Chicago-based USG Corp., made the announcement Thursday at a news conference inCarseland, Alta. The plant is also expected to generate 200 construction jobs.

"This will be CGC's largest capital investment in Canada in decades. It will be our first new wallboard plant anywhere in North America since 2007," said Chris Griffin, president and CEO of USG Corp.

"It is no exaggeration to say this will be one of the most exciting projects in our company's over 100-year history. This landmark investment cements our long-term commitment to the Canadian market."

Griffin said the new facility is intended to better serve customers across Western Canada, adding that the company's previous practice of shipping products from Eastern Canada or American manufacturing plants no longer suited demand.

CGC manufactures and distributes gypsum wallboard products, interior finishing materials andceiling products. It operates three mines and five plants across the country.

The company says it selected Wheatland County due to benefits offered by local governments.

The selected site is within an industrial area west ofCarseland, and the company says the plant's electricity needs will be powered through an onsite solar power farm.

"I know sustainability is a buzzword that we frequently hear, but there's no better term for what this development will contribute for our county and to this region," said Amber Link, the reeve of Wheatland County, during Thursday's event.

"It will add to our economic and our community sustainabilitywhile maintaining ecological sustainability."

The provincial government and Invest Alberta also worked with CGC on the project for more than a year, providing $3.74 million from an investment fundto support the expansion.