Colgate-Palmolive has invested more than $20 million in machinery and equipment as part of the first two phases of a planned three-phase expansion effort. The initial investment was stimulated by the increased demand for liquid hand soap at the Cambridge facility generated by the Covid pandemic. The Guernsey County Port Authority received a grant of $342,600 for upgrades to Desmond Drive and Guernsey Industrial Boulevard as a local commitment to the project.
Colgate-Palmolive is one of the major employers in Guernsey County, with over 350 full-time equivalent jobs paying above-average wages and offering outstanding benefits. The Cambridge facility manufactures cleaners, dish detergents, fabric softeners and liquid hand soap.
Colgate-Palmolive Cambridge Team is very excited for the investment in our site and our team,” said Plant Manager Rick Davis. “Our site has a long tradition of high performance and has had a strong community partnership since the plant was built in 1988. We look forward to this continued partnership.”
“We and our partners at JobsOhio appreciate Colgate-Palmolive’s confidence in Southeast Ohio and the talented workforce in Guernsey County,” remarked Mike Jacoby, Ohio Southeast President. “The Ohio Development Services Agency’s tax credit will play an essential role in bringing Colgate-Palmolive’s Cambridge facility the latest production equipment, as well as 25 new jobs.”
“Colgate-Palmolive is one of Guernsey County’s premier employers, universally regarded as a great place to work, and a major contributor to quality-of-life activities within the county,” noted Norm Blanchard, Economic Development Director of the Cambridge-Guernsey County Community Improvement Corporation (CIC). “Improvements to Guernsey Industrial Boulevard offer visible evidence of this major Colgate investment. Designed by the County Engineer’s Office with input from Jackson Township, two separate Ohio Department of Transportation grants will provide a significant upgrade to this primary access to the Colgate campus. The CIC is committed to doing all that’s necessary to facilitate any and all of Colgate’s investment in Guernsey County.”
The company has purchased approximately 75 acres of property adjacent to their facility as a first step toward potential future development, which would constitute Phase III of Colgate’s investment plans. Due diligence actions are complete and building options are under discussion.