Pennsylvania Gov Edward G Rendell announced that state investments will help a supply chain management company and a natural and specialty food distributor open a new distribution center in Allentown PA, creating at least 200 jobs within three years.
Supply chain management company OHL worked with Kehe Food Distributors, a US distributor of natural and specialty food products, to open the new 300,000-square-foot center. The $6.2 million facility, which Kehe Foods will use to serve food retailers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, is operating and is fully staffed, but the project will create at least 210 jobs within three years.
Founded in 1951, OHL is a provider of global supply chain management systems, including transportation, warehousing and distribution, customs brokerage, freight forwarding, and import and export consulting services. OHL operates more than 120 distribution centers, offers transportation management services, employs more than 5,600, and has offices worldwide.
Kehe distributes more than 40,000 products, including natural and organic, international, specialty, perishable, kosher, and Latin American food items to more than 15,000 retail outlets in 50 states, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
“Our new Allentown facility will dramatically improve our service times and overall operational efficiency in the Northeast,” said Tom Small, executive vice-president of warehousing and distribution for Kehe.
The project was coordinated through the Governor’s Action Team, which works directly with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in the state. Pennsylvania provided OHL with a $1 million funding offer that includes a $500,000 opportunity grant, $94,950 in job training assistance, and $422,000 in job creation tax credits.
