NEW COLUMBIA, PENNSYLVANIA, US – Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced on April 28 that Country View Family Farms, LLC has selected Pennsylvania for its more than $47.3 million feed mill expansion project that will create at least 51 new jobs in Union County.
“Pennsylvania successfully competed against other states for this expansion — a project that will have a big impact on the regional and state economy,” Wolf said. “It’s a testament to the welcoming, positive business environment we have here in the commonwealth, especially for agribusinesses, that we were able to win this project.”
Country View Family Farms will build a new feed mill on a 100-plus acre rail-served site at 2142 Old Route 15 in New Columbia, Union County, to support its hog production business.
“We anticipate that the creation of this state-of-the-art operation will facilitate and support the growth of numerous family farms and rural businesses by offering an exciting new market for agriculture commodities produced by local farmers,” said Eric Patton of Clemens Family Corp. “We look forward to working with the commonwealth and local officials to bring this vision to fruition.”
The company received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for a $255,000 Pennsylvania First grant and was encouraged to apply for the department’s Manufacturing Tax Credit (MTC) program, as well as PennDOT’s Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP). Country View Family Farms has committed to creating at least 51 new jobs in Union County, retaining 231 existing, full-time jobs statewide.
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture staff, including Secretary Russell Redding, helped coordinate this project.
“Country View Farms has been a valuable partner in promoting farm biosecurity and innovation, and providing jobs and opportunity for the region,” Redding said. “We are pleased that Pennsylvania is supporting the company as they increase their capacity to supply nutritious, locally produced foods that in turn feed our economy.”
Regional economic development organizations Drive and Focus Central PA also were involved in the project, working with local authorities and helping with site selection.
Based in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Country View Family Farms is a hog procurement and production company, managing over 100 family farms that are raising hogs under contract. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Clemens Family Corp. in Hatfield, Montgomery County.