Our Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) team recently visited APR Plastics as part of our ongoing Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) program. Joining the visit were Andrea Lendy with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), Jeremy Durbin with CenterPoint Energy, and Valerie Schmidt with the Southwest Indiana Workforce Board. We met with Ryan Zhou, Plant Manager, and Christine K., HR Director, to learn more about the company’s operations, growth, and future plans.
APR Plastics established its Evansville facility in 2023 and has quickly become part of the region’s strong plastics manufacturing ecosystem. The company manufactures cosmetic, personal care, and specialty plastic packaging, as well as select automotive components. Today, APR employs 49 team members at its approximately 100,000-square-foot facility and continues to invest in new equipment and production capacity to support growth.
During the visit, APR leadership shared why they chose Evansville, highlighting the region’s manufacturing base, access to suppliers, proximity to customers, and experienced workforce. It was exciting to hear how the company has continued to grow while establishing roots in Southwest Indiana.
Business Retention & Expansion visits are a key part of E-REP’s economic development efforts. These visits help us build relationships with local employers, understand their opportunities and challenges, connect them with resources, and support their continued success. Since most new jobs and investment come from existing businesses, these conversations are critical to the long-term growth of our region.
Thank you to the APR Plastics team for welcoming us into your facility and sharing more about your business. We appreciate the opportunity to learn more about your operation and look forward to supporting your continued growth in the Evansville Region.
About Business Retention & Expansion: E-REP’s Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) program is a proactive economic development strategy focused on strengthening the local economy by supporting, retaining, and fostering the growth of existing businesses. These programs identify and resolve local business challenges—such as workforce, infrastructure, or regulatory issues—through direct engagement, surveys, and partnerships to prevent closures and encourage expansion