HARRISBURG, Pa. — Continuing to advance his JOBS1st PA initiative, Governor Tom Corbett announced yesterday that the consumer packaged food and beverage manufacturer WhiteWave Foods Company will locate operations in Clearfield County, creating at least 100 new jobs.
“With each new job created, another family can work, live and thrive in Pennsylvania,” said Corbett. “My administration is proud to partner with WhiteWave Foods to create 100 new jobs in Clearfield County.”
WhiteWave Foods, a leading manufacturer of consumer packaged food and beverages, will locate operations in a 220,000-square-foot vacant facility located in Sandy Township, Clearfield County. The project is expected to generate a capital investment in infrastructure improvement, equipment and employee training costs. The expansion is projected to create 100 new jobs and retain eight existing positions.
”At WhiteWave our goal is to change the way the world eats for the better, and we look forward to continuing to advance this purpose with our new operations in Clearfield County,” said WhiteWave president Blaine McPeak. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to grow our WhiteWave team in the area through our new production facility.”
The company received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development including a $45,000 Guaranteed Free Training grant, to be used for training its new workforce at the project site. Additional funding includes a $300,000 Pennsylvania First Program grant that facilitates investment and job creation.
The company has also been encouraged to apply for two low-interest loans including $2.5 million from the Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund and $2.5 million from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority. The company will also locate in a Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone set to expire in 2023. WhiteWave has accepted the funding proposal, but must still apply for each grant and agree to the terms prior to award receipt.
The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team, a group of economic development professionals who work directly with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania in collaboration with the Clearfield County Economic Development Corporation.
“Clearfield County is very excited to have a growing food industry leader like WhiteWave Foods bring their production facility to Sandy Township, Clearfield County,” said Clearfield County Commissioner Mark McCracken. “Merging WhiteWave’s quality products and industry leading production standards with Clearfield County’s highly motivated workforce will prove to be a winning combination for the regional economy.”
The WhiteWave Foods Company is a leading consumer packaged food and beverage company that manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells branded Plant-based Foods and Beverages, Coffee Creamers and Beverages, Premium Dairy products and Organic Produce throughout North America and Europe. The Company’s widely-recognized, leading brands distributed in North America include Silk® Plant-based Foods and Beverages, International Delight® and LAND O LAKES® Coffee Creamers and Beverages used under license, Horizon Organic® Premium Dairy products and Earthbound Farm® organic produce. Its popular European brands of Plant-based Foods and Beverages include Alpro® and Provamel.®
For more information, visit WhiteWave Foods at www.whitewave.com.
In 2012, Gov. Corbett launched JOBS1st PA as a comprehensive roadmap to economic recovery that harnessed the state’s resources and talents to prioritize private-sector job creation and retention. Today, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate stands at a five-year low and jobs have been growing on a consistent basis for nearly four years.
For more information about Corbett’s commitment to JOBS1st PA, visit www.pa.gov.
