PMI's $1.2B Smokeless Tobacco, Aurora, Colorado Facility.
Watch this interview with Stacey Kennedy, Philip Morris' International, USA, CEO
Stacey Kennedy, Philip Morris International U.S. CEO, details the $1.2 billion investment in their new ZYN nicotine pouch plant in Aurora, Colorado, highlighting its rapid construction and $550 million annual economic impact.
Kennedy discusses ZYN's growing demand and recent FDA authorization, which she calls a 'most important endorsement' due to its reduced-risk health claims.
PMI's Landmark investment advances U.S. manufacturing leadership, creates high-quality jobs, and positions the Colorado location as a strategic production and export hub.
Originally announced in 2024 as a $600 million project, the Aurora campus continues to advance as part of PMI U.S.'s long-term investment in manufacturing capacity and infrastructure. As the facility enters its next phase of development, PMI U.S. is investing in additional production capacity, site expansion, and future capabilities to support continued growth of ZYN in the United States and increasing opportunities in international markets.
The project now represents approximately $1.2 billion total planned investment between 2024 and 2028, including land, advanced manufacturing equipment, infrastructure, facility development, and future production capabilities. Approximately $1 billion of the investment has been incurred to date.
More than a manufacturing facility, Aurora represents a major investment in PMI U.S.’s long-term growth strategy.
Building a Strategic Manufacturing and Export Hub
The Aurora campus integrates production, packaging, warehousing, and distribution operations within a single location, enabling efficient movement of products throughout the United States while supporting future export opportunities.
“Delivering a campus of this scale to commercial production within 19 months required exceptional collaboration, innovation, and commitment from everyone involved,” said Jim O’Leary, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Haskell Company, the design-build partner for the PMI U.S. Aurora campus. “By integrating design, engineering, and construction under a single team, we were able to accelerate delivery while maintaining the highest standards of quality and performance. We are proud to have helped create a facility that will generate lasting economic opportunity for Aurora and strengthen advanced manufacturing in the United States.”
Designed as a fully integrated manufacturing campus, the facility strengthens supply chain resilience, increases operational flexibility, and further diversifies PMI U.S.’s manufacturing footprint. Together with existing operations in Owensboro, Kentucky, and Wilson, North Carolina, Aurora enhances the company’s ability to meet growing demand while reducing reliance on any single production location.
The campus will support international markets across Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Creating Economic Impact in Colorado
The PMI U.S. Aurora campus is expected to directly employ approximately 500 people, creating a range of high-quality career opportunities across engineering, production, technical, quality control, and support functions.
At the announcement of the project, construction of the facility was expected to create nearly 5,000 construction-related jobs. An accompanying economic impact study projected that the resulting construction activity would generate nearly $1 billion in economic impact. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to generate approximately $550 million in annual economic impact and support 1,000 indirect jobs.
Economic investment is only one part of PMI U.S.'s commitment to Colorado. Guided by our principle of “Give where we live,” we complement our business investments with meaningful community partnerships and charitable giving.
Since 2024, PMI U.S. has invested more than $1.5 million in Colorado organizations, supporting local partners such as the Rocky Mountain Veterans Advocacy Project, Aurora Water Cares and the Community College of Aurora Foundation as they work to create lasting, positive impact in their communities.
Investing in Future Growth
The opening of the Aurora campus marks an important milestone in PMI U.S.’s continued investment in domestic manufacturing, operational capabilities, and long-term growth, reinforcing the company’s commitment to building the manufacturing capacity, infrastructure, and operational capabilities needed to support growing demand and strengthen its position as a leader in modern nicotine products.
The facility’s opening follows another significant milestone in the United States. On June 30, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized 20 ZYN products as modified risk tobacco products, making ZYN the first nicotine pouch product authorized to market reduced-risk information compared with cigarettes.
“Our investment in Aurora reflects our belief that American manufacturing will play a critical role in our long-term growth and success,” Kennedy added. "We’re proud to celebrate this milestone alongside our employees, our partners, the Aurora community and the state of Colorado. Together, we’ve built something that will create opportunities, strengthen U.S. manufacturing, and that can support our business for decades to come.”
Important Note:
In 2025, the use of nicotine pouches among U.S. high school seniors rose to 4.4%, up from 1.4% in 2023, according to the 2025 Monitoring the Future survey. While vaping rates have slightly declined (15.7% for seniors in 2025), many teens are switching to or combining pouches with vapes, with pouches becoming the second most used tobacco product.
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