A longtime maker of caskets and funeral products will expand its operations in York County, bringing 60 new full-time jobs to the region, Gov. Tom Wolf’s office said today.
The York Group will consolidate an out-of-state site into its Blackbridge Road site in Manchester Township, making facility renovations and purchasing new equipment.
York, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based Matthews International Corporation, has committed to investing at least $6 million into the project. The new jobs will be created over the next three years, while 276 existing positions will be retained, the governor’s office said.
“Today I’m thrilled to announce that Pennsylvania has secured another strong manufacturing expansion project,” Wolf said. “The York Group’s decision to consolidate operations from outside the commonwealth to York County instead of its location in Canada is a true testament to the company’s commitment to the region.”
The York Group received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development that includes a $100,000 Pennsylvania First program grant, $120,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits to be distributed upon creation of the new jobs, and $27,000 in WEDnetPA funding for employee training, state officials said.
“Matthews is proud of our over 165 year history in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and our 85-year heritage of building caskets in York, Pennsylvania,” said Steven D. Gackenbach, group president for Matthews Memorialization.
“We are pleased to expand our operations at this long-standing facility, which is an important part of our manufacturing network,” Gackenbach added. “The York plant employs a strong, local workforce who make the highest quality caskets in the funeral industry, and we look forward to continuing our manufacturing tradition in York for years to come.”
Matthews International Corporation employs more than 1,261 people in Pennsylvania and more than 10,000 people worldwide.
The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team — a 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 York County Economic Alliance.
“The York Group could have expanded its operations anywhere, but we are thrilled that the company will be doing so in York County,” said Loren Kroh, YCEA interim president and CEO.
“We welcome the projected 60 jobs to be added to the company’s existing York County workforce. As York County’s chamber and economic development corporation, the York County Economic Alliance looks forward to working with the company during and beyond this expansion,” Kroh added.
