Dive Brief:
- Clearly Ahead Development in Clearfield, PA, is looking to pursue food manufacturers for its 162-acre Commerce Park development.
- The company is working to make the company's facility the first site in Pennsylvania to receive the Primus/Garner designation, after review and analysis by Primus/Garner.
- Clearfield County aims to capitalize on the fast-growing food and beverage manufacturing industry and bring food and drink-related jobs to the area.
Dive Insight:
"Clearly Ahead Development chose to pursue food site certification because food and beverage companies are a significant target industry sector for the county," according to Gant Daily.
Commerce Park CEO Rob Swales notes that more than 30,000 companies in the U.S. are defined as food and beverage process manufacturers, and they provide more than 1.6 million jobs. Opportunities in the food and beverage sectors include organics and naturals, ready-to-eat, health and wellness, and ethnic and comfort foods, and this is where Swales sees an opportunity for Clearfield County and Commerce Park.