Governor Corbett: Pennsylvania Manufacturer to Expand, Create Jobs in Blair County

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Keeping a commitment to grow private sector jobs in Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Corbett announced today that Albemarle Corporation, a specialty chemical manufacturer, will expand its operations and create 20 new jobs in Blair County. 

"My administration is committed to supporting the growth of businesses like Albemarle that are investing in Pennsylvania and our workers," Corbett said. "Albemarle's expansion means construction jobs and the creation of 20 new manufacturing jobs once the project is completed."

Albemarle will expand its operations in Tyrone, Blair County, to add capacity to account for increased sales and production. The expansion will include a new process facility, offices, lab, control room and maintenance building. Additionally, Albemarle will purchase new production equipment and train its employees at the facility. The project will result in the retention of 170 jobs and creation of at least 20 jobs within three years.

The company received a $150,000 funding offer from the Department of Community and Economic Development, including a $100,000 Pennsylvania First grant and $50,000 from the Guaranteed Free Training Program.

"We would like to thank the local community leaders for granting Albemarle a license to operate in Tyrone. We are pleased once again to expand this site to serve the growing product needs of our customers," Luke Kissam said, Albemarle's Chief Executive Officer. "This project comes shortly after our earlier expansion that began operation in November 2012 and will fuel the continued growth of our custom manufacturing business."

The project was coordinated by the Governor's Action Team, or GAT, a group of economic development professionals who work directly with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania. GAT worked with the Altoona Blair County Development Corporation to support Albemarle's expansion.

"We consider our collaborative efforts for economic development here at Altoona-Blair County Development Corp. an item of great pride and we are excited to be part of this project with Governor Corbett, the Governor's Action Team, DCED, our federal, state and local elected officials, agencies and private sector partners," Martin Marasco, President and CEO of ABCD Corp, said. "We are grateful to Albemarle Corp. for their continued growth in Blair County as well as their investment and creation of new jobs here in the heart of the I-99 Innovation Corridor Region."

Albemarle is a leading global developer, manufacturer, and marketer of highly-engineered specialty chemicals for consumer electronics, petroleum refining, utilities, packaging, construction, automotive/transportation, pharmaceuticals, crop protection, food-safety and custom chemistry services. The company is a leader in product development for multi-purpose chemical intermediates used by other chemical companies primarily for the pharmaceutical industry. Albemarle, a spinoff of Ethyl Corporation, employs 4,000 at 100 locations worldwide, and 170 at its Blair County location.

For more information about Albemarle Corporation, visit www.albemarle.com.

For more information on the Governor's Action Team and other economic development initiatives in Pennsylvania, visit www.newPA.com or call 1-866-466-3972.

Media contacts:
Kelli Roberts, Governor's Office; 717-783-1116
Steven Kratz, DCED; 717-783-1132

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor