Ashland’s $30M Texas City expansion

TEXAS CITY – Ashland Inc. is embarking on two expansion projects totaling $30 million at its facility located on 60 acres at 4501 Attwater Ave. at SH 146.

First, Ashland is expanding production of polyplasdone and polycar cross-linked polyvinlypyrrolidone — PPVP — to meet a high demand. The expansion is expected to be complete by early 2014.

The second expansion, expected to be complete fall 2013, would increase the plant’s capacity by 30 percent for vinylpyrrolidone — VP — a precursor to PPVP.

Texas City has approved a 70 percent property tax abatement for six years for Ashland. Ashland employs about 175 people at its Texas City facility, and the expansion will create a small number of new jobs.