Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf announced today that Champion Modular, Inc., a custom producer of homes and commercial structures, will purchase and reopen a vacant manufacturing facility in Susquehanna Township, Juniata County, and create 246 new jobs.
“Champion is not only reopening a site that closed in May 2016 and putting it back to good use, but it also hopes to hire many of workers who lost their jobs when the previous company filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy and ceased operations,” said Governor Wolf. “On behalf of the commonwealth and the local communities affected by this project, I applaud Champion for its decision to expand operations in Juniata County and thank it for its outstanding contribution to the region’s economic well-being.”
In order to develop a manufacturing site, as well as a technical center for engineering, design, sales, and support services for the company’s locations in other states, Champion will purchase and renovate a 120,000-square-foot facility previously operated by Innovative Building Systems’ Excel Homes at 10642 South Susquehanna Trail, Liverpool, Juniata County. The company has committed to investing $4,830,000 in the project, which will include the purchase and renovation of the site, new equipment procurement, and acquisition of IBS’s intellectual property. Champion has committed to the creation of 246 new, full-time jobs over the next three years.
“Champion was drawn to this opportunity by the strength of the Excel Homes brand and the capability of the Excel workforce to build custom homes with unparalleled quality,” said Champion CEO and President Keith Anderson. “We look forward to building on that tradition of excellence to meet the needs and expectations of builders and developers in Pennsylvania and surrounding states.”
Champion received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development that includes a $300,000 Pennsylvania First Program grant, $492,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits to be distributed upon creation of the new jobs, and $81,000 in WEDnetPA funding for employee training.
The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team, an experienced group of economic development professionals who report directly to the governor and work with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania.
Founded in 1953, Champion Modular, Inc. specializes in a wide variety of manufactured, modular, and park model homes, as well as modular buildings for the multi-family, hospitality, senior, and workforce housing sectors. Champion started as a single manufacturing facility in rural Michigan and grew to offer factory-built housing and other structures throughout the U.S., U.K., and western Canada. The company operates 28 manufacturing facilities throughout North America and Europe, and employs more than 4,200 people worldwide.
For more information on Champion, visit www.championhomes.com.
For more information about the Governor’s Action Team or DCED visit dced.pa.gov.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jeff Sheridan, Governor’s Office, 717-783-1116
Lyndsay Kensinger, DCED, 717-720-1304