VONORE, TN — Genera announces it has selected W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Company (Yates) to manage the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the company’s first manufacturing facility in Vonore, Tennessee, following a $118-million investment secured by Genera to produce its Earthable line of sustainable agricultural fiber products.

Earthable will be the largest fully integrated, domestic solution for ag-based fiber and food-grade packaging in the United States and will require the implementation of a new fiber production technology to produce the agriculture fibers that make up its sustainable product line.

“We are invested in the success of this sustainable product line for both the environment and the positive opportunities it provides to rural economies,” said Keith Brazzell, COO of Genera. “Genera is committed to continued success in each new venture. The partners we choose must fit our vision and be highly qualified for this undertaking.”

The pulp and paper industry is a key strategic market for Yates, and they have proven successful on related industry projects in recent years. They will be responsible for all of the EPC activities on the project. Their role as the EPC contractor is to ensure the new facility is completed as designed and on time.

“With more than 150 pulp and paper projects completed over the last decade, Yates is a standout veteran of the market,” said Clay Dye, Project Manager of Genera. “We eagerly anticipate having the new facility operational, and we know that with Yates it will be completed quickly but with careful planning and an emphasis on safety.”

“We know the paper product manufacturing industry well, and we are a boots-on-the-ground company that delivers results on schedule with precision,” said Bo Gilbert, Vice President of Yates Industrial Division. “We have been serving commercial and industrial clients for more than 50 years, and we work to develop lasting relationships with all our clients. We hope to work with Genera for years to come, and we look forward to the impact their sustainable fiber solutions will have on the world.”