PITTSBURGH, May 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Cameron Family Glass Packaging announced today the completion of a $109 million financing deal that will allow the company to move forward with the creation of the first new glass plant built in the United States in 30 years that will manufacture glass exclusively for the wine industry. The facility is expected to create at least 90 jobs when it is completed in the latter part of 2008.

    The project is led by the Donald R. Cameron and Richard R. Cameron families. Donald R. Cameron serves as Chairman of the Board and James W. Cameron is the company's President and CEO. William Spear -- formerly a Vice President of Coca-Cola USA who has background in finance and marketing -- is assisting the Cameron family in managing the development of the project.

    The 175,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will be built by contractor J.H. Kelly LLC. Located in the Port of Kalama, Washington, it will be the largest eco-friendly wine bottle manufacturing facility in the world. Its hydro-powered electric furnace will be the largest anywhere for wine bottle production, and will operate by utilizing the Northwest waterways of the Columbia River.

    According to Donald R. Cameron, the company spent the last three years researching the wine industry and recognized a significant need in the marketplace.

    "We discovered two major issues that proved to us there was room in this industry for a new player: a lack of capacity and quality issues," he said. "We also felt that we could build a furnace that would set a new standard for eco-friendly glass wine bottle production."

    The mission of the company is to provide the highest quality wine bottle, along with unmatched customer service, using an environmentally friendly process.

    "Our family was in the Coca-Cola business for more than 100 years, and what has always differentiated us is the quality of our product and our customer service," Cameron said.

    Representing the company in the $109 million financing was the law firm of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC. The firm and the Camerons have worked together for more than 20 years, led by shareholder Francis A. Muracca II. The project finance team that worked on this deal included Buchanan attorneys Timothy M. Hazel, Deborah B. Walrath, Thomas G. Buchanan, James W. Forsyth, James D. Newell and Paula A. Zawadzki.
 
    A Strong Commitment to the Environment
    Donald Cameron said producing the glass bottles in an environmentally friendly way was an objective of the company from the very beginning.

    "Our furnace, which is the largest electric glass furnace in the world, allows us to minimize the impact on the environment because there are no harmful emissions. By comparison, similar facilities operate furnaces that are powered by fossil fuel, which produce harmful greenhouse emissions and are subject to the ever-rising price of natural gas."

    The company will also make recycling a top priority for the facility. The wine bottles will be made at least in part from recycled glass from Washington and Oregon. They will launch recycling programs in surrounding communities where glass is currently being dumped into landfills, and the company will even recycle all water used during the glass making process.

    "Being environmentally conscious is an absolute priority for us," remarked Cameron. "We're on the cutting edge of what America is trying to do now in being environmentally friendly."
 
    The Location: Kalama, Washington
    According to Robin Pollard, Executive Director of the Washington Wine Commission, the state is home to more than 500 wineries, which comprise a $3 billion industry that is second only to California in the United States.

    "Any time you bring the product closer to the customer, it's going to add a significant benefit, because it will reduce cost and increase availability and accessibility. That's good news for wineries in Washington, Oregon and California," Pollard said.

    Corey Balkan, vice president of the Cowlitz Economic Development Council (CEDC), said that the Port of Kalama in Cowlitz County offered the business "low energy costs, an extensive transportation network and a skilled workforce."

    The CEDC, in conjunction with several key economic development partners, assisted the company in securing a number of economic development programs, including:
 
-- Rural Area Sales & Use Tax Exemption

-- Rural Area Business & Occupation Tax Credit

-- Cowlitz PUD Economic Development Policy

-- $200,000 from the State's Strategic Reserve Account, allocated by
   Governor Christine Gregoire

-- Cowlitz Workforce Development Team, which will help secure new
   employees through the WorkSource system

-- Job Skills Program, in conjunction with the Lower Columbia College, to
   design and deliver training.

-- Community Economic Revitalization Board allocation of $1 million to
   support electrical infrastructure needs of Cameron Family Glass Packaging.

    Leading the Business
    Though the family will hire a staff to run that plant, the company will continue to be led by two generations of Camerons. Management positions are held by Donald R. Cameron, Chairman of the Board, and James W. Cameron, President & CEO.

    Family members who play significant roles in the business are: The Richard and Edwina Cameron family, including James and Nancy Cameron and Steven and Diane Cameron. Members of the Donald and Sally Cameron family are Scott and Maggie Cameron and Chris and Beth Cameron Scott.
 
    About the Camerons
    Cameron Bottling Co. was formed in Washington, Pennsylvania, in 1889, and has been run by four generations of family members ever since. In 1998, the company was ranked the ninth largest U.S. bottler. After more than 100 years of operation, Cameron Coca-Cola sold the operation to Coca-Cola Enterprise in 1999. For more information on Cameron Family Glass Packaging, visit http://www.cameronfamilyglass.com .