State approves funding for Eurofins project in Lancaster County

Eurofins, a provider of analytical testing services to the bio/pharmaceutical, food, environmental and medical device industries, was approved for a $469,511 grant to assist with transportation improvements. They include upgrading a traffic signal at Route 23 and Geist Road and the widening of approximately a quarter-mile of Route 23 between Geist Road and the third turn light at an existing Rutter’s store.

The company announced its expansion plans last year. The project received state assistance through the Department of Community and Economic Development, including a $1 million Pennsylvania First Program grant and $1.05 million in job creation tax credits, to be distributed upon creation of 350 new jobs over three years.

“Any time you have a large job creation project like the expansion of Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories, it is crucial to ensure that the surrounding infrastructure supports that growth and the resulting increase in traffic flow,” Dennis Davin, secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development said in a statement. He added that the new infrastructure will reduce congestion and make the roads safer.

Construction also involves an exit ramp into Eurofins for its employees, customers and vendors.

“We are grateful to have the commonwealth’s assistance as we expand our testing services portfolio and geographic footprint to better serve our clients, employees and community,” Neal Salerno, president of Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories, said in a statement.

Funding for the project was provided by the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Funds program which is administered in cooperation with the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

“On behalf of Governor Wolf, we at PennDOT are delighted to assist with additional improvements to New Holland Pike in line with Eurofins’ plans for its expanded campus,” Leslie S. Richards, secretary of PennDOT, said in a statement.

Eurofins Lancaster was acquired from Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. by French firm Eurofins Scientific SA in 2011 for $200 million.