Pennsylvania Governor Corbett Announces Dollar General Distribution Center to Locate in Berks County, Create 500 New Jobs

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett announced today that Dollar General Corporation, a national retailer with more than 10,000 stores, will locate its new distribution center in Bethel Township, Berks County and create more than 500 jobs and an additional 75 indirect trucking jobs.    

"My goal is simple: to make sure there is a job out there for every Pennsylvanian who wants one," Corbett said. "Our effort to bring Dollar General to Berks County means that 500 people will have the opportunity to earn a paycheck."

Dollar General will build a 900,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art distribution center in Berks Park 78, a new industrial park in Bethel Township. The $100 million project is expected to create at least 500 new jobs and an additional 75 indirect trucking jobs.   

Dollar General received a $2.2 million funding offer from the Department of Community and Economic Development, including a $1 million PA First grant, $225,000 in job training assistance and $1 million in Job Creation Tax Credits.    

"This distribution center is an investment in the growth of our company, as well as the state of Pennsylvania and Bethel Township," said Dollar General Chairman and CEO Rick Dreiling. "Dollar General opened its first store in the Keystone state in 1974, and we are proud to have contributed to its economic growth by creating jobs for nearly four decades."

The project was coordinated by the Governor's Action Team, a group of economic development professionals housed within the Department of Community and Economic Development, who work directly with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania. The team worked with the Berks County Industrial Development Authority to bring Dollar General's new distribution facility to Pennsylvania.

"Landing Dollar General at Berks Park 78 was made possible by a team of dedicated professionals and public officials," Berks County Industrial Development Authority Executive Director Thomas C. McKeon said. "They put the financing, infrastructure, local incentives and permitting in place that allowed us to compete like we never have before with a true shovel-ready site. We couldn't be any more excited to welcome this great company and look forward to the jobs and economic benefit they'll bring to our region."  

Dollar General Corporation has been delivering value to shoppers for more than 70 years. Dollar General helps shoppers save time and money by offering products that are frequently used and replenished, such as food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, house wares and seasonal items at low everyday prices in convenient neighborhood locations. With more than 10,000 stores in 40 states, Dollar General has more retail locations than any retailer in America.

For more information on Dollar General, visit www.dollargeneral.com.

For more information on the Governor's Action Team and other economic development initiatives in Pennsylvania, visit www.newPA.com or call 1-866-466-3972.

Media contacts:
Kelli Roberts, Governor's Office; 717-783-1116
Steven Kratz, DCED; 717-783-1132

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor