Italian pasta manufacturer Il Pastaio plans to build its first U.S. plant in central Pennsylvania, state officials announced Thursday.
Il Pastaio will construct a 71,300-square-foot facility in a Gregg Township business park. The $12.5 million project is expected to create more than 70 jobs.
Officials said the expansion would bolster its presence in the U.S., as well as its gnocchi manufacturing capabilities.
“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,” Il Pastaio CEO Pierluigi Colombi said in the announcement. “We are excited to contribute to the growth of the sector, bringing our quality craftsmanship and passion for Italian cuisine to a new generation of consumers.”