Mount Pleasant, PA -
Local and state leaders gathered Wednesday for the groundbreaking for the Tyson Foods Inc. expansion in Highridge Business Park that is expected to create hundreds of new jobs.
The $59.7 million project will almost double the size of the approximately 190,000-square-foot facility and is expected to create 114 full-time jobs in addition to the more than 100 full-time jobs there now.
Work for the expansion started two or three days ago, Josh Smith, facility manager, said. It's scheduled to be completed by late 2018. The site will store finished goods for distribution.
The building started as a Sara Lee facility in 2007.
“It truly is a very big day in Schuylkill County and the 123rd legislative district,” Rep. Neal P. Goodman, D-123, Mahanoy City, said.
“Economic development is a team effort,” Frank Zukas, president of the Schuylkill Economic Development Corp., said.
Tyson Foods will receive a $228,000 tax credit and a $46,400 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development, which will be paid upon the creation of the new jobs.
Goodman said the jobs can be “life-changing” and the investment in the community will have a “ripple effect that will go throughout our county.”
“The greatest asset that we have here in Schuylkill County are the men and women that work here. Thank you for our investment in our county,” Goodman said.
“We are proud to have you as part of our community,” Schuylkill County commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. said.
Brent Vernon, director of the Governor's Action Team - a group which reports to Gov. Tom Wolf and coordinates with local economic development agencies who seek to locate or expand in the state - agreed the expansion effort was a partnership.
“No one entity can do it all. We thank you for your investment and your contribution to this community. We are glad you are here,” Vernon said.
Chris Parks, managing director of distribution center operations, said he is looking forward to the future for the company, the community and the employees.
“These are exciting times for us and we really thank you for being here today,” he said.
With the expansion, the company looks to be the main distribution point in the northeast from Maine to North Carolina. There are seven other distribution centers in the United States. Workers will start to be hired in four to six months. Company representatives declined to say how much the starting rate is but said it is very competitive.
Parks has worked for the Tyson Foods Inc. for 27 years. He started out as a forklift driver in Russellville, Arkansas. Asked what he would say about the company, Parks said they treat people like family.
“That's why we don't call them employees. We call them team members,” he said.
After all hiring is completed pertaining to the expansion, he said about 230 people will work at the site in Highridge. Positions available include material handlers, forklift drivers and maintenance.
Schuylkill County commissioners Gary Hess and Frank Staudenmeier attended as did Christine Verdier, chief of staff for Sen. Dave Argall, R-29, Rush Township, and members of SEDCO.
Hess said the expansion is good news for the county.
“It gives clout to the Schuylkill County workforce,” he said.
The company has numerous brands, including Hillshire Farm, Sara Lee, Jimmy Dean and others. A list is available on www.tysonfoods.com.
AMY MARCHIANO Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028
