MONTICELLO, GA. -- Norton Packaging Inc. is moving eastward with its rigid plastic containers, recently breaking ground on a new facility in Georgia, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

DEC said in a news release that Norton is investing $12 million and will create 90 new jobs in an injection molding facility that will manufacture rigid shipping containers.

"This location in Georgia's heartland is an outgrowth of a business strategy to extend existing customer relationships in addition to expanding our customer base in fast-growing markets," said Scott Norton, co-president of Norton Packaging in a statement.

Norton Packaging, based in Haywood, Calif., currently operates facilities in California and Indiana. It has been a family-owned operation since 1901 and is managed by fourth-generation members of the Norton family.

The Georgia facility will occupy 76,000 square feet and be used to supply the Southeast region of the U.S. as well as Puerto Rico and Europe. It plans to begin hiring by July.