FRANKLIN—Construction work to finish the build-out of the Franklin Business Incubator, postponed several times in an effort to land several International Paper Co. customer service jobs, is expected to begin by the beginning of March.

IP has yet to announce where it will house 35 customer service employees who will not be affected by the closure of the Franklin mill this year.

Last year the Incubator was awarded two grants to complete the building: a $150,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in August, and a $536,466 grant from Community Development Block Grant–Recovery program.

CDBG–R is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and is administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.