Lehigh Times

Country View Family Farms will be building a new feed mill on a farm of more than 100 acres in New Columbia for hog production.

The $47.3 million project will create at least 51 new high-paying jobs in Union County, a recent press release by Gov. Tom Wolf said. The new feed mill will be located at a rail-served site at 2142 Old Route 15. Country View Farms is based out of Middletown, Penn., and is a hog procurement and production company. It manages more than 100 family farms that raise hogs under contract. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Clemens Family Corporation out of Hatfield.

“Pennsylvania successfully competed against other states for this expansion — a project that will have a big impact on the regional and state economy,” Gov. Tom Wolf said in the release. “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 received a funding proposal of $255,000 from the Department of Community and Economic Development in what was a Pennsylvania First grant. The company was encouraged to apply for the Manufacturing Tax Credit program and the PennDOT Rail Freight Assistance Program. The company has now committed to create 51 jobs and also retain 231 existing, full-time jobs across the state. Over the next three years more than $47,325,000 will be invested in the project.

“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,” Eric Patton, of Clemens Family Corporation, said in the release. “We look forward to working with the commonwealth and local officials to bring this vision to fruition.”

The Governor’s Action Team (GAT) coordinated the project in collaboration with economic development professionals who report to Wolf. They also work with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania. Over the past seven years, Wolf has invested $17.3 billion through GAT, which has supported 410 projects, created more than 45,850 jobs and retained more than 140,500 jobs. 

Assisting in the coordination of this project was the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Secretary Russell Reading noted that Country View Farms has been a valuable partner for the promotion of farm biosecurity and innovation and has also provided jobs and opportunity for the region.

“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,” Redding said in the release.

Also involved in the project were organizations such as Drive and Focus Central PA, which worked on site selection. 

“Focus Central PA is thrilled to recognize and thank Country View Family Farms for investing in Pennsylvania,” Lauren Bryson, Focus Central PA executive director, said in the release. “This is a significant and strategic agribusiness investment, a critical industry to smart economic growth, that we work to attract to provide sustainable, high-quality career opportunities in Central PA.”

Drive Executive Director Jennifer Wakeman said that agriculture is the heart of the state’s economy.

“A project like this highlights everything that makes our region unique; a commitment to agriculture, a strong work ethic, and the infrastructure required to support an operation of this magnitude,” she said in the release.