Global Engine Manufacturer to Build North American Plant in Pennsylvania

Vacon, a $320 million (2007 revenue) global engine manufacturer based in Finland, is locating its North American headquarters in Chambersburg, Pa.  The facility will hold both product development and testing facilities under the same roof and is projected to create 94 jobs.  If all goes as plan, the company will open the facility in 2009. 

Link to Press Release

Company Website

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Pennsylvania Economy: BMW to Invest in Parts Distribution Facility in Pennsylvania

It was announced today that BMW is going to invest $170 million in 2 distribution facilities in Pennsylvania and Illinois (article link).  BMW is also investing $100 million in its U.S. headquarters in New Jersey and its South Carolina manufacturing facility.  The distribution facility in Pennsylvania will be based in Lower Nazareth and create 118 new jobs.  BMW’s vice president of aftersales, Alan Harris, said that BMW is “very proud that this new distribution center in Lower Nazareth will incorporate state-of-the-art, energy efficient and environmentally friendly features and technologies.”  Link to State of Pennsylvania article.

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Pennsylvania Economy: Church & Dwight to move facility to Pennsylvania

Church & Dwight, the manufacturer of Arm & Hammer branded products, Oxi-Clean, and a wide variety of other consumer products, announced yesterday that it will re-locate a detergent manufacturing operation to York County Pennsylvania.  The move to PA was decided after a year long search of trying to find a cost-effective and strategic location – York County fit the bill with access to highways and close proximity to major markets.  Construction will start on the 1.1 sq. ft. facility in Sept. 2008 and be finished in 2009.  Church & Dwight has announced that the new facility will reflect its commitment to sustainability – The site design reflects Church & Dwight’s long-standing concern for the environment – the facility will use 30% less energy, produce 50% less solid waste and use renewable energy sources for on-site processing needs.  The company is offering transition plans for some of the N.J. work-force and they are going to hire a substantial number of Pennsylvanians – perhaps, numbering in the hundreds.  Church & Dwight is a $2.2B company and says that its detergent divison is its most important in terms of future growth.

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Pennsylvania: a new hotbed for filmmaking

According to an article on Innovation Philadelphia, there are over $500 million in film projects planned in the Philadelphia area over the next 3 years.  Pennsylvania boosted tax incentives for film making last year and mega movies have responded by sending more business to Pennsylvania.  Local resident and favorite M. Night Shyamalan is currently filming The Last Airbender in the region.  The comedy, Tenure, set to star Luke Wlson and Gretchen Mol, started filming on the Main Line in April.  In Old City, The Dream of the Romans is being shot, starring Jeff Daniels and Lauren Graham.  To add to the list, the drama Happy Tears, starring Demi Moore and Parker Posey, also started filming in the area and the move Transformers 2 is set to kick-off filming later this year.  Philadelphia offers a colorful back drop for movies without some of the hassles of filming in New York or other popular cities.  The city has “old” charm and has the attractive everyday hustle of a vibrant community.  Having Pennsylvania as the background in movies and TV shows boosts the local economy – local talent is called upon to create sets, fill in as extras, run equipment, and work with local businesses to facilitate operations.  It is also a great driver of tourism among other things.

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Amazon to Build Facility in Pennsylvania

They didn’t name Pennsylvania the keystone because of its importance to national distribution – but…they could have.  PA is becoming a hot bed for state-of-the-art distribution operations – drive down I 80 or  I 76 and you’ll see new mega distibution centers popping-up.  Amazon.com just announced a new 600,000 sq. ft facility near Hazelton that will emplyee ~1200 Pennsylvanians.  Although they are sometimes eye soars if constructed in the wrong location, they are keeping the economy vibrant.  Distribution facilities often attract company regional headquarters – adding to the diversity of employment. 

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