Waco, Texas, USA 03 August 2015 -- (From local news sources) -- Sonoco, a global packaging company that has been in Waco for 10 years, said it will invest $13.5 million on new equipment for area operations and will add about 15 jobs.

"We greatly appreciate the city's commitment to our company's future and to our place in the community," plant manager Rick Brzezinski said in a press release.

Kris Collins, senior vice president for economic development at the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber has kept in touch with Sonoco through its retention and expansion program and knew of its plans to expand.

"We worked with them to identify the scope of the project and to help them tap into any assistance programs," Collins said during a phone interview.

Collins said Sonoco will apply for business grants from Waco City Council and McLennan County Commissioners Court.

He said the grant will be comparable in impact to a tax abatement agreement.

Sonoco hopes to install a new rotary die-cut machine, slitter and rotogravure printing press by late 2015 or early 2016.