Last week, the Antis Township Planning Commission gave its recommendation that township supervisors approve a land development plan submitted by Balfurd Inc.
The plan calls for a proposed expansion of a building which Balfurd recently purchased in the Ardie J. Dillen Industrial Park.
The planning commission voted to approve submitting the plans to the supervisors contingent upon it meeting the township’s consulting engineer’s recommendations, according to Jeff Ziegler, Antis Township’s manager.
The vote means the plans could go before the supervisors at their next meeting which is scheduled for June 3.
Last month, Balfurd Inc. of State College, announced plans to relocated its production facility to the industrial park. The plans include the use of an existing 30,000-square-foot building and the construction of a 13,000 plus square-foot addition to the rear of the building. Additional construction is also proposed including work on the front of the existing building, an employee parking lot and an access road for delivery trucks.
Balfurd Inc., a commercial laundry service provider, is planning to begin work on the building expansion in July and is hoping to have its new facility operational in November.
The move is expected to bring some new jobs to northern Blair County. Balfurd conducted a job fair on Saturday at the new location. Some of the current employees in Centre County are expected to transfer to Antis Township. The exact number of new jobs is not yet known according to the company’s president, Bob Fogelsanger.
The State College facility is expected to close, once the transfer is completed. Retail operations will continue in State College according to Fogelsanger.
Prior to the job fair, Fogelsanger said the company will have 45 to 50 employees including delivery drivers at the new location and will employ about 85 workers with the combination of the production facility and the retail operations.
