PPG broke ground on a 22-acre site in the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center, about 15 miles east of Reno, to build a 95,000-square foot architectural coatings manufacturing facility.

Expected to begin production near the end of 2007, the facility will manufacture more than 15 million gallons of water-based latex paint per year at full capacity. Products will be sold under the Olympic, Lucite, Pittsburgh and other PPG paint brands.

"PPG selected a site in northern Nevada because of its proximity to western distribution markets, business-friendly environment and educated workforce," said Ron Bishop, director of manufacturing and information technology, PPG architectural coatings.

Terry McGinnis, who currently manages PPG's architectural coatings plant in Dover, DE is construction manager for the project and will manage the new manufacturing facility. PPG will employ approximately 35 people there in supply-chain management, process operations, material handling and packaging, and the facility will operate on two shifts.

"This new paint manufacturing facility will enable PPG to better serve the expanding networks of Lowe's stores, PPG company-owned stores and independent dealers in 12 western states," said Scott Sinetar, vice president, PPG architectural coatings, North America.