Whirlpool to Build New Manufacturing Facility in Tennessee

Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool Corp. said it will build a $120 million manufacturing facility for premium cooking products in Cleveland, Tenn.

With the expansion, Whirpool said it will add 130 new jobs to its 1,500 Cleveland employees.

The new 1-million-square-foot facility will replace Whirlpool's 100-year-old manufacturing plant in Cleveland. Whirlpool expects construction to begin in the fourth quarter.

Whirpool Chairman and CEO Jeff Fettig said the new facility in Cleveland marks the "largest single investment we've ever made anywhere in the world and reinforces our commitment to the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing."

Whirpool said it also plans to build a 400,000-square-foot distribution center at the site.

The new facility in Cleveland coincides with several other expansion projects on tap for Whirlpool in the United States. They include:

• A new $85 million office campus and renovation of some of its facilities at its Benton Harbor, Mich., headquarters.
• A $175 million investment in the company's laundry facilities in Ohio.
• A $20 million investment in its Amana, Iowa, refrigeration plant to drive improved productivity and efficiency.
• A new $40 million, 1-million-square-foot regional distribution center in Wilmer, Texas.

"Whirlpool continues to invest in our U.S.-based manufacturing footprint," Fettig said. "We have a strong commitment that this is an excellent place to invest and create value for both our customers and our shareholders. In 2010, a year of continued, significant economic challenge, Whirlpool continues to invest in innovation, our employees and the infrastructure needed to ensure we continue to lead the industry with truly innovative products that meet the changing needs of consumers."