May12, 2001

Donnelley's Expanding

$48 million expansion will be one of Mattoon facility's biggest, could create 100 new jobs

MATTOON -R.R. Donnelley & Sons Vice President and Division Director Isabelle Day credited the support from the city as part of the company's decision to invest another $48 million and create 100 new jobs at the Mattoon facility .   The expansion announcement Friday comes about two weeks after the company announced plans to close its Des Moines, Iowa, facility, with hints at the time that other facilities may expand due to the closing. The Des Moines plant employed about 775 people.

Mattoon Mayor Dave Carter , state Rep. Dale Righter, Jeanne Gustafson of Coles Together and Donald Byrd of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs listened Friday at Donnelley's as Day described the plans to add a 120,000-square-foot addition to the existing Mattoon facility and add equipment.  "This is a very exciting and terrific day for Donnelley's," Day said. "In 33 years, we have had 11 expansions, but this one is the biggest we have had."

"It (the expansion) is a reflection of the community," Day said. "We are proud to be a key part of the Mattoon and Coles County community , whose solid support and people have made this growth possible." The facility's most recent expansion was in 1998 when Donnelley invested $8.5 million to upgrade an existing offset press and add a second press.

New employees, transfers from other company sites and promotions from within the Mattoon facility will fill the additional positions, Day said. The anticipated positions include entry level, craft, technical and support. Currently, the Mattoon facility has about 1, 700 employees and is Donnelley's third-largest facility out of 53, Day said.  "Mattoon is a key plant for Donnelley," Day said. "It is one of  the biggest plants as far as square  feet and number of employees."

Righter said Donnelley has done  a wonderful job using Mattoon as an "economic engine." He also praised the cooperation between the company and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs for working to make the expansion occur, and also credited the state for supporting the project during the current slowing of the economy.  "State incentives are crucial now that we have an economic slowdown," Righter said."