#MakeItInPA: Governor Corbett Announces Quality Pasta Company's Grand Opening; Creating 33 New Jobs in Washington County

Press Release

Continuing to advance his JOBS1st PA initiative, Governor Tom Corbett today announced Quality Pasta Company, a consumer packaged goods manufacturer, will open new state-of-the-art food packaging facility that is expected to create 33 new jobs in Charleroi, Washington County.

"I am pleased to welcome Quality Pasta Company to Charleroi and to Pennsylvania," Gov. Corbett said. "Today's grand opening not only celebrates the 33 new jobs that Quality Pasta will bring to the area, it also recognizes the impact that those new jobs will bring to the community. For every one manufacturing job, 3.1 jobs are created in other industries."

Quality Pasta has purchased and renovated a facility on two acres in Chamber Plaza to house their cartoning and microwavable cup lines that will manufacture and assemble store brand and retail dry packaged dinners and side dishes. The plant will be the only store brand focused macaroni and cheese production facility located in the eastern United States. The company has invested more than $3.8 million at the site and has committed to creating at least 33 new jobs over the next three years.

The company received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development including a $33,000 Job Creation Tax Credit and a $14,850 Guaranteed Free Training grant to be used to train its new workforce. Quality Pasta has accepted the funding proposal, but must still apply for each grant and agree to the terms prior to award receipt.

In addition to the funding offer, the company has applied for and been approved to receive a low-interest loan including $825,000 from the Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund.

"We are very pleased to bring our new company to Charleroi and we are also very pleased with the high level of cooperation and support we are receiving from the town, county and state of Pennsylvania," said Paul DeStefano, President, Quality Pasta Company. "We look forward to being a vibrant member of the community and to providing growth and opportunity for our employees and our business partners."

The project was coordinated by the Governor's Action Team (GAT), 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. GAT worked in collaboration with the Mon Valley Progress Council.

"The location of Quality Pasta in Charleroi is good news for the community as well as the Mid Mon Valley region," said Joe Kirk, Executive Director, Mon Valley Progress Council. "The efforts of current and past elected officials played a very important role in this success."

In 2011, Gov. Corbett commissioned the Governor's Manufacturing Advisory Council (GMAC), a public/private advisory council, to identify and prioritize top issues to influence, sustain and advance the manufacturing sector in the commonwealth.

The 24-member Council sent its report to Gov. Corbett and the General Assembly in August 2012 and outlined 15 key recommendations to help Pennsylvania remain competitive in today's global economy. Administration efforts to address all 15 recommendations include strategic investments in workforce development and education, creating a state energy policy, investing in infrastructure improvements via Act 89, opening new domestic and international markets, implementing tax and regulatory reform, improving access to capital and making government work better by encouraging innovation.

Quality Pasta is a consumer packaged goods manufacturer with an emphasis on store brand macaroni and cheese products. Quality Pasta Company was established in July of 2013 and began production in August of 2014.

For more information on Quality Pasta Company visit www.quality-pasta.com.

In 2012, Gov. Corbett launched JOBS1st PA as a comprehensive roadmap to economic recovery that harnessed the state's resources and talents to prioritize private-sector job creation and retention. Today, Pennsylvania's unemployment rate stands below that of the national rate and jobs have been growing on a consistent basis for nearly four years.

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