Nearly $120 million in investment and 319 new jobs are headed for Southwest Virginia.

Seven months after Gatorade Thirst Quencher said it would invest $140 million to build a manufacturing and distribution facility in Wythe County, a plastic packaging manufacturer will put up $105 million to locate alongside it.

Amcor PET Packaging's Progress Park plant will eventually employ 144 people, according to Tuesday's announcement by Gov. Mark Warner.

The 700,000-square-foot plant will largely supply bottles for the Gatorade plant, a facility that is expected to begin production in late summer or early fall.

Alan Hawthorne, executive director of the Joint Industrial Development Authority of Wythe County, said he'd hoped to recruit a bottle producer to the park since the Gatorade announcement in order to "pull the supply chain together to provide a more efficient operation."

The project received a $400,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund as well as $300,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds.

"Amcor PET Packaging is pleased to be opening this state-of-the-art facility in Wytheville," said Frank Pellicori, vice president and general manager for Amcor PET Packaging's North American Beverage Division, in a press release.

"We believe that Virginia's strong business climate, excellent infrastructure and well-educated work force will be instrumental in making this endeavor successful."

Hawthorne said he expects Amcor to begin site construction in the 1,210-acre industrial park east of Wytheville this spring.

Most of Amcor's 144 jobs will be in manufacturing, with additional positions in the facility's distribution warehouse.

In a second multimillion-dollar investment announcement Tuesday, Michigan-based Intermet Corp. said it would invest $14.3 million in new machinery and equipment at the New River Foundry in Radford.

Company spokesman Mike Kelly said 175 new jobs would also open up as a result of that investment.

Just two months ago, the manufacturer of cast-metal automotive components emerged from bankruptcy, a situation that forced the company to close an iron castings plant in Illinois.

The closure of that plant, as well as consolidation at other facilities, resulted in expansion at the New River Foundry, Kelly said.

Warner approved a $250,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist Radford with the project.

"We are very excited to hear of Intermet's decision to make additional investments in its New River Foundry operation here in the city of Radford," Radford economic development director Basil Edwards said in a news release.

"Intermet provides quality jobs to our community, and their continued success is a key component of the city's economic future."

Kelly said the foundry currently employs 377 people. The new employees -- some of whom have already been hired -- will work on the molding line, the finishing line and in the core-making department. Others will be supporting the new production in various capacities.