PITTSTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA-As the inter-state rivalry for jobs and industry intensifies between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the Keystone State scored a nice goal last week with Greiner Packaging Corp.'s decision to establish headquarters here.
Gov. Tom Corbett made the announcement, saying it meant 128 new jobs within three years for the state.
Greiner signed a lease for a 113,871-square-foot building in the township that will serve as its first U.S. manufacturing site. The company plans to invest nearly $17 million in manufacturing, computer equipment, furniture and fixtures at the site where it will produce high-quality premium packaging of cups and lids, as well as other convenience and sustainable items for the food industry.
New Jersey put its dukes up this year with its new Grow NJ tax-incentives packages designed to lure businesses away from other states, especially New York and Pennsylvania.
In the case of Greiner, it was a shrewd package of incentives from Pennsylvania that tipped the balance in making the decision where to locate, according to Willi Eibner, Greiner CEO. "This region is of great interest to the packaging industry because many milk processing establishments are located here," Eibner said. But he said that the incentive package was also a crucial factor.
The Governor's Action Team of experienced real estate professionals worked with Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, representing Greiner, to put together the deal.
According to the governor's office, the company received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development that included a $104,000 Guaranteed Free Training grant to be used to train its new workforce.
Also offered were: a $450,000 grant under the Pennsylvania First program aimed at spurring investment and job creation, and $256,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits.
The company has also been encouraged to apply for a low-interest loan of $3.2 million from the Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund.
Greiner Packaging has accepted the funding proposal, but must formally apply for each loan and grant and agree to the terms prior to receiving the awards.
The project was also coordinated with the state's Office of International Business Development, in partnership with the Pittston Chamber of Commerce and Penn College Plastic Innovation and Resource Center.
Greiner Packaging is a subsidiary enterprise of Greiner Packaging International, which is one of five divisions of Greiner Group. Greiner Group was established in Germany in 1868 and currently has headquarters in Austria.
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