A fast-growing and veteran-owned Centre County electronics manufacturer is expanding to a larger facility and with it will retain and create jobs in the area.
Homeland Manufacturing Services, currently located on Clyde Avenue in College Township, will build a new, 12,500-square-foot building in Benner Commerce Park, with room to grow in the future. Earlier this month, the business was approved for a low-interest loan of up to $2.65 million from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA).
“As one of the fastest-growing veteran-owned private manufacturers in the U.S., we’re proud to expand right here in Centre County where we’ve been since the start,” John Bonislawski, president and CEO of Homeland, said in a news release. “We appreciate the support of the Governor’s Action Team in making this expansion a reality.”
Homeland manufactures circuit cards and cables for a variety of industries.
The company, which was founded in 2011, is in need of greater production capacity to grow and plans to invest at least $1.96 million in the expansion. In moving to the new facility, it will retain 20 jobs and create at least 10 new jobs.
“Any time we can support Pennsylvania veterans in their business enterprises, it’s great news – but especially so when it means the business is creating good, reliable jobs in the manufacturing sector,” Gov. Tom Wolf said. “Homeland has been growing in Centre County since 2011, and I applaud its decision to continue its growth right here in Pennsylvania.”
The loan was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team, which is a group of economic development specialists, and the Moshannon Valley Economic Development Partnership, which was approved in September to administer the PIDA loan program throughout all of Centre County.
‘[I]n less than one month, we were involved with John Bonislawski to assist him with a PIDA loan for his expansion project,” said Stan LaFuria, executive director of the MVEDP. “We are pleased and proud to partner with the state to support this expansion project that will create jobs here in the region.”
Homeland also received a $13,500 grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development to assist with job training costs.
“This is great news for the region,’ state Rep. Mike Hanna said. ‘Creating and protecting family-sustaining jobs has to be a priority for Pennsylvania’s future. I am pleased that Homeland received these state funds from Gov. Tom Wolf and look forward to watching this veteran-owned company continue to expand in Centre County.”
