Gov. Corbett Thursday announced Curry Supply Company, a manufacturer of commercial service vehicles related to the natural gas industry in Pennsylvania, has established a new facility in Blair County, a move that will create 50 jobs.

“The growth of our energy industry is reigniting our manufacturing and leading to new jobs for Pennsylvanians,” said Corbett. “Marcellus shale presents new opportunity for Pennsylvania companies like Curry Supply Company to develop new technologies to increase productivity and environmental safety.”

Curry Supply Company has entered into a lease of a 50,000-square-foot space in the DeGol Industrial Park Center in Hollidaysburg, Blair County. The company plans to locate the railroad activities and invest more than $2.4 million at the new site and has also committed to creating at least 50 new jobs and retaining 144 positions over the next three years.

The company will utilize the vacated space at its existing Curryville plant to give the company more room to serve its growing core business sectors.

The company received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development including a $150,000 Pennsylvania First Program grant that facilitates investment and job creation and $100,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits and a $30,000 Guaranteed Free Training grant to be used to train its new workforce.

The company has also been encouraged to apply for the funding offer as well as a low-interest loan including $1 million from the Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund (MELF). Curry Supply has accepted the funding proposal, but must still apply for each loan and grant and agree to the terms prior to award receipt.

"Curry Supply has been experiencing incredible growth," said Mark Ritchey, Curry Supply Principal Partner. "Expanding our manufacturing operations into the DeGol Industrial Park gives us the room we need to increase our capacity and better serve our target markets."

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 the Altoona Blair County Development Corporation (ABCD Corp.).

"We are very grateful and appreciative to the entire Ritchey Family and the team of employees at Curry Supply for their continued investment in Blair County. This company and project provides employment opportunities that benefit not only Curry Supply but also Blair County, the I-99 Corridor Region and the Commonwealth," said Martin J. Marasco, President/CEO of ABCD Corp.  "We are thankful for the collaborative teamwork from our partners including Gov. Tom Corbett, DCED and the Governor's Action Team in making sure that this project was made a reality here in Blair County."

Curry Supply Company is a manufacturer and dealer of commercial service vehicles serving the construction, rental, mining, oil and gas, railroad and waste industries. Their expanded operations related to the natural gas industry in Pennsylvania will include vacuum trucks, rig vacs and water trucks.

5/19/2014