Governor Rendell Says Food Distribution Facility Will Create More Than 200 Jobs in Lehigh Valley

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 6 -- Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today that state investments will help a supply chain management company and a leading natural and specialty food distributor open a new distribution center in Allentown, creating at least 200 jobs within three years.

Supply chain management company OHL worked with Kehe Food Distributors, a leading U.S. 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.

"The decision and partnership by OHL and Kehe Foods to bring this distribution center to Allentown and the create 200-plus jobs is especially noteworthy and welcome," said Governor Rendell. "We must continually invest in quality projects like this one to create jobs in Pennsylvania and leverage private sector investment."

Founded in 1951, OHL is a leading provider of global supply chain management solutions, including transportation, warehousing and distribution, customs brokerage, freight forwarding and import and export consulting services. OHL operates more than 120 value-added distribution centers, offers comprehensive transportation management services, employs more than 5,600, and has offices worldwide.

"We are pleased that Kehe Foods has expanded with us in Allentown," said Scott McWilliams, CEO of OHL. "The Governor's Action team worked diligently to design a program that benefits OHL, Kehe and the residents of this community."

Kehe Food Distributors 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. "We're very pleased with our new eastern Pennsylvania location."

The project was coordinated through the Governor's Action Team, economic development professionals who work 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.

Since Governor Rendell took office in 2003, GAT has successfully completed 1,179 projects, resulting in commitments to create 125,521 new jobs and retain 297,425 existing positions. The commonwealth has offered more than $2.2 billion in assistance for these projects, which will leverage more than $16 billion in additional investment.