LEXINGTON, Ohio — Next Generation Films Inc. accepted a $100,000 donation from Columbia Gas of Ohio’s Jobs Growth Fund Tuesday morning.
The donation follows the Lexington-based company’s recently approved annexation of 28 acres from Washington Township to the Village of Lexington. The company plans to construct a 150,000 square-foot building in the coming months.
The expansion plan, announced in January 2015, has a $31 million price tag but boasts the creation of nearly 100 new jobs to the existing 410. The building will be the company’s seventh at its headquarters in Lexington.
CEO David Frecka said in January the expansion project is expected to bolster the company’s annual sales revenue from $295 million to $400 million.
Next Gen manufactures customized plastic films and bags for the country’s food industry and other markets. It was founded in 1994 by Frecka and, according to Chief Financial Officer David Bubar, had only 18 employees.
Presidents of Next Gen and Columbia Gas Dan Niss and Daniel Creekmur, respectively, were all smiles at Tuesday’s ceremony.
“I’m really excited for you guys here,” said Creekmur, as he shook hands with Niss. “I’m proud to see the Jobs Growth Fund support projects that help our communities grow.”
Niss thanked Creekmur and added, “We’re excited to see what happens as a result of this.”
According to a press release issued by Columbia Gas, the Jobs Growth Fund is a $1.55 million grant program offered by Columbia Gas of Ohio. With grant awards ranging from $50,000 to $250,000, the funds provide financial assistance to new and existing companies that create new jobs with Columbia’s service territory.
The funds will be used to offset costs of the expansion, said Columbia Gas of Ohio Communications and Community Relations Manager Jason Copsey.
