Italian Gnocchi Processor Il Pastaio to Build First North American Plant in Pennsylvania
Italian pasta manufacturer Il Pastaio will build its first North American pasta manufacturing facility in Union County, Pa., according to a report from Gov. Josh Shapiro’s offices shared with Food Processing.
The 71,300-sq.-ft. facility will be constructed in Gregg Township and will expand Il Pastaio’s gnocchi processing capabilities. It will create at least 74 full-time jobs in the county, the release noted.
Il Pastaio, which was founded in 1983, produces gnocchi under its namesake brand as well as the Patarò brand in three manufacturing facilities in Italy. The Pennsylvania project is the result of the company’s growing U.S. import business.
“The opening of this plant is certainly an important step for Il Pastaio, but it also materializes the idea of making our contribution to the integration of the best Italian traditions with the energy and the agro-food culture of the United States,” Pierluigi Colombi, CEO of Il Pastaio, said in the news release.
Il Pastaio received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) that includes a $111,000 WEDnetPA grant to train workers and up to $72,200 in tax credits through the Manufacturing Tax Credit Program. Additionally, the Great Stream Commons business park is in a Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ), which will provide the company with significant tax savings on the project, the release said.