ESD Announces Premier Packaging Corporation Opens New Manufacturing Facility in Monroe County

June 15, 2022

Paper Board Packaging Manufacturer Constructed New, 105,000 Square-Foot Facility in the Town of Henrietta; Commits to Creating Close to 40 New Jobs

Investment Complements “Finger Lakes Forward” – The Region’s Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that Premier Packaging Corporation, has officially opened a 105,000 square-foot, newly constructed, manufacturing facility in Wiregrass Business Park in the Town of Henrietta, Monroe County. The company which provides paper board packaging to some of the country’s largest digital photo finishing, food packaging, and medical device companies built the plant to better accommodate demand for its products and has additionally committed to creating up to 37 new jobs as part of the expansion project; 52 jobs will be retained.

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Premier Packaging Corporation’s new facility reinforces the company’s commitment to the Finger Lakes, a region that offers the “whole package” to top-notch businesses looking for skilled talent. New York's targeted support for forward-thinking projects like this one will continue to strengthen the economy, creating top quality jobs in Monroe County and across the state.”

Premier Packaging Corporation was founded in 1989 and was acquired by DSS, Inc. in 2010. DSS is a multinational company, operating businesses in consumer packaging, blockchain security, direct marketing, healthcare, medical real estate, and securitized digital assets. Premier has been a market leader in providing innovative and secure solutions for paperboard packaging from heavy mailing envelops and photo sleeves, to sophisticated custom folding cartons and complex 3-dimensional direct mail solutions. Premier’s innovative designs deliver functionality, marketability, sustainability, and anti-counterfeiting technology.

Premier Packaging Corporation President and DSS Chief Operating Officer, Jason Grady said, “We are grateful to ESD for providing Premier with an opportunity to advance our business. As a multinational company, we had several options when considering a new location, but with the help of ESD, we are able to continue to call this area home and excited to begin operations in our new state-of-the-art facility in Henrietta. The Upstate NY and Finger Lakes region has proven as an ideal place for us to operate our business, service our customer base, and further expand our offerings, and we look forward to continuing that succuss moving forward.”

ESD is assisting Premier Packaging by providing up to $700,000 in performance-based Excelsior Tax Credits in exchange for job creation commitments. Monroe County, Rochester Gas & Electric and Greater Rochester Enterprise are also assisting with the company’s continued growth. The total project cost has been placed at $6.2 million.

State Senator Patrick Gallivan said, “I congratulate Premier Packaging Corporation on its new manufacturing facility in Henrietta and its decision to expand in Monroe County. The project adds new jobs, secures existing ones and sends a positive message to the community. Supporting existing businesses and helping them to grow is critical as we work to expand the economy of our region and New York State."

State Assembly Member Harry Bronson said, “I applaud Premier Packaging for their commitment to our region,” said Assemblymember Harry Bronson. “Today’s announcement by the company shows that the Rochester area has a strong, diverse, and skilled workforce and is in an economic position to create jobs for the future. I look forward to Premier Packaging’s growth and the addition of new jobs at their new Henrietta campus.”

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said, “Monroe County continues to prove itself to be a hub of economic growth, technological advancement and entrepreneurial spirit – and that is further demonstrated by Premier Packaging Corporation’s investment in our community and neighbors. My thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul and Empire State Development for continuing to foster job growth and prosperity for Monroe County.”

Henrietta Town Supervisor Stephen L. Schultz said, “We were very happy to learn Premier Packaging would be expanding their production facilities and chose Henrietta’s Winegrass Business Park to do so, creating up to 37 new jobs in addition to the 52 existing employees on staff. Innovative programs at the Rochester Institute of Technology, such as their Packaging Science program, help to bring in strong talent to Henrietta. In an effort to retain that talent, we have partnered with Monroe County and the State of New York and have rezoned the areas south of the RIT campus for industrial parks and mixed-use development. Premier Packaging is another great example of the numerous companies that have located in office parks near campus as a result, growing a strong industrial center, and creating many well-paying jobs for our residents and for those throughout the region. The efforts of Empire State Development and Monroe County to attract businesses to the area has paid big dividends.”

Bob Duffy, President and CEO of Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, and Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Committee Co-Chair, said, “Congratulations to Premier Packaging Corporation on this exciting expansion in the Town of Henrietta, which proves once again that the Greater Rochester/Finger Lakes region is an ideal place for innovative companies to grow and thrive. Thank you to our partners in government and economic development for helping to enhance business investment and growth in our region. We look forward to assisting Premier Packaging Corporation President and DSS Chief Operating Officer Jason Grady and his team with their continued success.”

Matt Hurlbutt, President and CEO, Greater Rochester Enterprise said, “Premier Packaging Corporation continues to leverage the packaging assets and expertise available in the Greater Rochester, NY region to support its growth. This expansion is another great example of collaboration – including an outstanding developer who supplied a facility that met the company’s needs. This support, coupled with a competitive cost of doing business, made Rochester the right location for Premier Packaging Corporation’s expansion.”

For additional information regarding Premier Packaging visit: https://www.dsssecure.com/packaging/.

For additional Information regarding DSS, Inc.: visit: https://www.dssinc.com/.

Accelerating Finger Lakes Forward

Today’s announcement complements “Finger Lakes Forward,” the region’s comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. The regionally designed plan focuses on investing in key industries including photonics, agriculture‎ and food production, and advanced manufacturing. Now, the region is accelerating Finger Lakes Forward with a $500 million State investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative. The State’s $500 million investment will incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion – and the region’s plan, as submitted, projects up to 8,200 new jobs. More information is available here.

About Empire State Development

Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency (www.esd.ny.gov). The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing the Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I LOVE NEW YORK,” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.

###

About DSS, Inc.

DSS is a multinational company operating businesses within nine divisions: Product Packaging, Biotechnology, Direct Marketing, Commercial Lending, Securities and Investment Management, Alternative Trading, Digital Transformation, Secure Living, and Alternative Energy. DSS strategically acquires and develops assets to enrich the value of its shareholders through calculated IPO spinoffs and a parametric share distribution strategy. Since 2019, under the guidance of new leadership, DSS has built the necessary foundation for achievable growth through the formation of a diversified portfolio of companies positioned to drive profitability in multiple high growth sectors. These companies offer innovative, flexible, and real-world solutions that not only provide mutual benefits for businesses and their customers, but also create sustainable value and opportunity for transformation. For more information on DSS visit http://www.dssworld.com.

Translation Services