According to a report this week by MassLive, Springfield, Mass., USA, Mohawk Fine Paper, Cohoes, N.Y., celebrated the opening of its new South Hadley, Mass. envelope manufacturing center on Tuesday that has brought 70 new jobs. The July 21 event started at 9:30 a.m. and took place on 28 Gaylord St., where Mohawk Northeast Envelope Converting Center has its new operations.

The company is the country's largest privately owned manufacturer of fine papers, envelopes, and specialty substrates. Mohawk operations include commercial and digital printing. Their officials describe the South Hadley venture as "new, world-class envelope converting facility."

Mohawk Chairman and CEO Thomas D. O'Connor attended and led a tour of the facility.

Town officials worked diligently with the company to locate the envelope center in South Hadley. "Here is a case where South Hadley, out of pure will, competed and was successful in drawing a company which was much sought after. Congratulations South Hadley," Town Administrator Michael Sullivan said. 

"The presence of Mohawk Fine Paper has created, and will continue to grow jobs which will benefit South Hadley, and beyond," he continued. "Mohawk has already established themselves as a good community partner - helping with the Tiger Pride initiative, and also contributing to FallsFest. Their presence will be an incentive to grow workforce affordable housing in the Falls and throughout the community."

The company expects to produce 500 million envelopes a year at the South Hadley plant. They invested $2 million at Gaylord Street to prepare it for operations.

Founded in 1931, the Cohoes, N.Y., company employees 540 and operates mills and converting facilities there as well as Ohio, California, Washington, and the Netherlands.