Northeast
Economic development does not always come easily, but Penn–sylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced in June that Great Dane, a leading manufacturer of semi-trailers, will establish a facility in Ralpho Township, Northumberland County. This expansion will create 150 new jobs.
“I am thrilled to recognize 150 new manufacturing jobs coming to Northumberland County,” Wolf says. “Through Great Dane’s expansion, a long-vacant manufacturing facility will be put back into productive use. My budget will continue to support manufacturing companies that are creating good-paying, middle-class jobs for Pennsylvanians.”
Great Dane will expand business operations at the former Fleetwood RV site in Ralpho Township. The company plans to invest $11 million at the site, and has also committed to create at least 150 new jobs and retain 438 existing positions over the next three years. The company received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development, including a Pennsylvania First Program grant for $425,000 and a WEDnetPA grant for $67,500.
According to Sam Gupta, Great Dane’s executive vice president of manufacturing, the company has successfully maintained a trailer manufacturing presence in nearby Danville for more than 10 years, and is looking forward to expanding its manufacturing and employment footprint in the region.
“Our current Danville facility will be complemented by the new Elysburg plant, which is larger and better suited to future expansion,” Gupta says. “Once the new plant is fully operational, we will be able to significantly expand our dry-van manufacturing capabilities while increasing employment opportunities in the region.”
The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team, an experienced group of economic development professionals who report directly to the governor and work with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania, in collaboration with Northumberland County Office of Economic Development.
“I have been working to bring this company and all of the employment opportunities for our citizens for several years now and I am thrilled to finally see the deal coming together. We still have some work to finalize all of it on a local level, but I am confident we will get it done,” Northumberland Chairman Vinny Clausi says.
“I want to thank Governor Wolf, the Governor’s Action Team and our state officials for helping secure this great company,” Clausi adds. “I also want to thank Ralpho Township supervisors, ARC, PennDOT and SEDA-COG for all they did in working with us to help bring these well-paying jobs to our county.”
With more than 100 years in business, Great Dane is a leading manufacturer of dry van, flatbed and refrigerated semi-trailers, with offices, manufacturing locations, distribution centers and retail facilities located throughout the Americas.