PARIS PACKAGING FACILITY TO LOCATE IN HOPKINSVILLE

Frankfort – May 15, 2003 - Governor Paul E. Patton, Economic Development Secretary Gene Strong and company officials, announced today that Paris Packaging, Inc., the largest independent carton manufacturer in the Southwest, will locate in Hopkinsville. The company currently operates a state of the art folding carton-manufacturing facility in Paris, Texas. The Hopkinsville proposal includes the acquisition of an existing 119,000 square foot manufacturing facility (previously the International Paper facility) on 18 acres of land, and the purchase of new manufacturing equipment.

The company has indicated it will create 175 new jobs upon project completion and the project represents an investment of $6.4 million. The primary customers are in the food industry.

`"Our focus in Kentucky is on improving economic and educational opportunities so our children and grandchildren will have an even better quality of life," said Governor Patton. "Providing new opportunities to the people of southwestern Kentucky is an important part of that process, and we welcome Paris Packaging to a state that values both its people and its employers."

"We are pleased to welcome Paris Packaging as our newest corporate citizen," added Strong. "This project is the product of many hours of hard work, and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Paris Packaging. Bill Carver, President of Paris Packaging, was our guest at the 2003 Kentucky Derby. He expressed his pleasure in Kentucky's business climate and the quality of life he looked forward to for his employees."

The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development is the primary state agency in Kentucky responsible for creating new jobs and new investment in the state. New business investment in Kentucky in 2002 totaled more than $3.2 billion with the creation of nearly 13,000 new jobs. Information on available development sites, workforce training, incentive programs, community profiles, small business development and other resources is available at www.thinkkentucky.com.