Massive Distribution Warehouse with Hundreds of Jobs Planned for Benner Township

Plans for a massive “fulfillment center warehouse” that would employ nearly 700 people in Benner Commerce Park have been submitted to Benner Township and Centre County.

But what company will be using the 1-million-square-foot warehouse on 103 acres at the end of Penntech Drive off of Benner Pike has not yet been revealed.

A representative for property developer SunCap Property Group told Centre County commissioners at Tuesday’s board meeting that he is currently bound by a non-disclosure agreement with the prospective employer.

“However, we will work with the end user to try to get permission to disclose it in the coming months,” Matthew Virgin, SunCap senior vice president for business development, said.

The warehouse will employ 370 workers on day shift and 313 on night shift, as well as seasonal employees, Christopher Schnure, county subdivision and land development planner, said.

It will have approximately 900 parking spaces on the west side of the building, with tractor-trailer bays on the east and south sides.

“When we talk about 700 employees potentially, truck bays of 70, 80 potentially, very few businesses come to mind,” Commissioner Michael Pipe said.

Primary access to the property will be from Venture Drive, which runs between Penntech Drive and Rishel Hill Road, under Interstate 99 and adjacent to Rutters.

A traffic impact study is under review by engineers for Benner Township, the developer and PennDOT.

“Benner Commerce Park has always had plans for a traffic signal at … Penntech Drive and Benner Pike,” Schnure said. “There will end up being a traffic signal at that location.”

Otherwise, “very minimal improvements are going to be needed for the traffic flow,” because of the proximity to the Interstate 99 interchange.

Three parcels are being consolidated to form a single 103-acre lot where the warehouse and corresponding infrastructure will be located.

A large stormwater detention facility is included in the plans. Carly Davis, of project engineer Langan Engineering, said filtration is included in the stormwater management and none will be released into surrounding waters.

“This is going to bring a lot of jobs to Centre County,” Commissioner Steve Dershem said. “It’s pretty clear a development of this magnitude is going to have a positive impact for our community.”

Commissioners moved to next week’s consent agenda a memorandum of understanding with Benner Township for the final land development plan, which is only one step toward final approvals.

Schnure said the county planning commission will provide further review and comment at its May meeting.

The warehouse would be part of growing development in the area along Benner Pike near Bellefonte.

Benner Commerce Park is currently home to SilcoTek, Cleveland Brothers, Homeland Manufacturing and Pennsylvania State Police.

Nearby, Rutter’s opened in 2020 along Rishel Hill Road, across from the Centre County Correctional Facility.

The Shoppes at Paradise, located at the intersection of Paradise Road and Benner Pike, is currently under construction. It will include a Giant supermarket as well as four lots for retail/restaurant and office tenants that have not yet been announced.