Northhampton News

Cabinetworks Group, one of the nation’s largest kitchen and bath cabinet manufacturers and distributors, will be investing $23 million into an expansion project at their Mount Union manufacturing facility that will result in 1,694 jobs either created or retained.

The move will create 327 new jobs at the facility over the next three years, a recent press release from Gov. Tom Wolf’s office said. Another 1,367 existing employees will be retained at four Pennsylvania locations. The project was made possible through the Governor’s Action Team (GAT), which is a group of economic development professionals working to help those locating or expanding in the commonwealth.

“My administration remains committed to investing in growing companies like Cabinetworks Group and boosting the commonwealth’s manufacturing industry,” Wolf said in the release. “This is the kind of company that contributes to our strong manufacturing environment while also creating jobs in rural counties like Huntingdon County – a true win for Pennsylvania.”

Cabinetworks Group received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) totaling $981,000 through a Pennsylvania First Grant, the release said. They also received a $630,000 workforce development grant to train new workers. What is currently a kitchen cabinet component manufacturing facility will be converted into a complete cabinet manufacturing and assembly operation.

“This is the second Cabinetworks Group project we’ve invested in under Gov. Wolf,” said DCED Acting Secretary Neil Weaver, who held a press conference at the Mount Union site. “We’re pleased to support this newest expansion as the company continues to grow in central Pennsylvania.”

Cabinetworks CEO John Barkhouse joined Weaver at the press conference and thanked Wolf and his administration for their assistance.

“We are extremely proud to expand our operations in central Pennsylvania, bringing advanced manufacturing to the region, creating new jobs in Huntingdon County, and contributing to the state’s economy,” Barkhouse said in the release.

Wolf has invested approximately $18 billion in seven years through the GAT. This has led to 430 projects, 48,000 new jobs and 145,200 jobs retained.

“This is a great example of how public and private sectors can work together to grow manufacturing in Huntingdon County,” Debra Clark-Loner, executive director of Huntingdon County Business & Industry, said in the release. “We are very pleased that Cabinetworks Group found a home with us, and are grateful for their commitment to the community.”