Wolf: More jobs headed to Lebanon County

(Lebanon) — More jobs are coming to Lebanon. Governor Tom Wolf announced Wednesday Lebanon Valley Cold Storage and Distribution Center, a frozen bakery products storage and manufacturing company, will open a new facility in Lebanon, a move resulting in 131 new, full-time jobs.

“This is a proud day for Pennsylvania and Lebanon,” Wolf said in a news release. “This manufacturer’s plan to construct a new facility and add 131 jobs shows that Lebanon County and Pennsylvania have what it takes to attract new businesses to make strong investments, offer employment opportunities and help communities grow.”

Lebanon Valley Cold Storage and Distribution Center will construct the new facility on a 22.83-acre site on Hanford Drive in the Lebanon Rails Business Park. The first phase of construction is compromised of a 120,000-square-foot frozen, refrigerated warehouse with a production area. Work is expected to be completed in early 2017. The second phase will add 180,000-square-feet for bakery operations, including at least three production lines for baked goods and storage space. The company has committed to making an investment of $38.7 million in the project. All 131 jobs will develop over the next three years.

Susan Eberly, president of Lebanon Valley Economic Development Corporation, says the economic impact in the county will greatly benefit overtime.

“What’s nice about it is manufacturing is such a spin off,” Eberly said. “It impacts other jobs in the community besides the new employees of the company.”

The distribution center received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development including $250,000 Pennsylvania First program grant, $262,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits to be distributed upon creation of the new jobs, and $58,950 in WEDnet funding for employee training. The company was also approved for a $2 million low-interest loan from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority in June.

Eberly says the distribution center liked all what the county had to offer for a new location.

“The company had been looking for over a year for a new site. They liked the location, and the price of our land,” she said. “In our first meeting, we brought lot of different people to the table to show we work together as a county, and that was a big impression. Our connections with the state were a big sell, as well. They showed comfort they would be fully supported in Lebanon County.”

And the distribution center is very grateful for the opportunity to expand to the area.

“We are so excited to find such a beautiful building site in Lebanon County for our new cold storage facility,” said Marlene Kreidler, director of business development for Lebanon Valley Cold Storage and Distribution Center, in a news release. “Lebanon County is located in the perfect sweet spot for shipping all over the United States. Everyone in county has been so friendly and helpful in getting us situated there with the PIDA funds and the training programs offered for our new staff.”

The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team and the Lebanon Valley Economic Development Corporation. The Governor’s Action Team is an experience group of economic development professionals who report directly to the governor and work with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania.

Groundbreaking for the project will take place Thursday, August 11 at 1:30 p.m. at Lebanon Rails Business Park. Wolf is invited, but has not confirmed his attendance. In the event the governor cannot attend, his secretary will take his place. Other company staff and local officials will also be in attendance.

This article is part of a content-sharing partnership between WITF and the Lebanon Daily News.