Gov. Rendell Says Ice Cream Cone-Maker Will Expand in Mercer County, Create 50 Jobs

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 375 jobs will be created or retained as one of the world's largest ice cream cone companies expands operations in Mercer County, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today.

Joy Cone Co. will expand its current facility in Hermitage by 190,000 square feet, which will allow the company to increase production capacity for its variety of ice cream cone products. The $21 million project will create 50 new jobs and retain 327 existing positions at the site.

"This project will keep a family owned company operating in Pennsylvania and it will create 50 much-needed manufacturing jobs in the northwestern region," said Governor Rendell. "It's another great example of how the commonwealth successfully uses its economic development tools to create jobs and leverage significant private investment."

Joy Cone has practiced the art of cone baking for 85 years. It annually produces more than 1.5 billion cones at its facilities in Pennsylvania and Arizona for retail and food service outlets.

The project was coordinated by the Governor's Action Team, economic development professionals who work with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania.

The Penn Northwest Development Corp. worked with the company and the Governor's Action Team to secure a $2.1 million funding offer from the Department of Community and Economic Development for the project. The offer includes a $2 million loan from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority, $21,150 in job training assistance, and $47,000 in job creation tax credits. To date, Joy Cone Co. has elected only to take advantage of the job training assistance and the job creation tax credits.

"The project is one of the largest projects in Mercer County in the past three or four years and we are thrilled with Joy's decisions to expand facilities and create new employment opportunities locally," said Larry Reichard, executive director of Penn Northwest.

Since Governor Rendell took office in 2003, the Governor's Action Team has successfully completed 1,157 projects, resulting in commitments to create 125,147 new jobs and retain 298,217 existing positions. The commonwealth has offered more than $2.2 billion in assistance for these projects, which will leverage more than $15.8 billion in additional investment.

For more information on Joy Cone, visit www.joycone.com.

For more information on the Governor's Action Team and other Department of Community and Economic Development programs, visit www.NewPA.com or call 1-866-466-3972.

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SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor