Fortune 200 food manufacturer Sara Lee is expected to announce construction of a 182,000-square-foot distribution center in the Highridge Business Park, near Gordon, at noon today which will lead to as many as 120 new jobs.
County officials were guarded with details of the park’s new tenant Tuesday citing confidentiality agreements with the Downers Grove, Ill.-based company whose brands include Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean and Kiwi.
"We’ve talked to the company and they prefer to make the announcement, so out of courtesy to them we’re waiting to make the announcement until tomorrow," said Mark J. Scarbinsky, director of the Schuylkill County Economic Development Office.
The company did not immediately return calls to its Downers Grove headquarters Tuesday for comment.
However, county Commissioner Mantura M. Gallagher confirmed the manufacturer’s identity and a sign with the company name and logo was clearly displayed at the site where work crews have begun construction just off Keystone Boulevard East.
Commissioner Robert S. Carl Jr., while saying he also had been asked not to disclose the identity of the new company, added Tuesday that the new facility would involve refrigeration.
"I think we’re talking about something in the neighborhood of 120 permanent jobs,” said Carl. “I don’t know how many construction jobs we may be talking about."
Scarbinsky said the building would take up only a small portion of the 40.58 acres available on the parcel.
The property is located in Cass Township next to the Country Inn & Suites just off Keystone Boulevard East, a major artery of the park.
Carl said the company had set an aggressive deadline on completion of the facility hoping to be operational by October.
"It’s rising out of the ground," Scarbinsky said.
Commissioners Chairman Frank J. Staudenmeier could not be reached for comment.
The county’s Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation would not release information on the project.
"The announcement will be made tomorrow," said Jerry Heffner, vice president of SEDCO.
Scarbinsky said the county commissioners will be joined by company officials and representatives of the Governor’s Action Team, part of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and perhaps other local officials.
According to the company’s Web site, Sara Lee is an international manufacturer and marketer of food and beverage brands including Ambi Pur, Ball Park, Douwe Egberts, Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean, Kiwi, Sanex, Senseo and the company’s namesake, Sara Lee.
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