CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — Martin’s Famous Potato Rolls is set to expand its facility in Chambersburg, with the assistance of the Shapiro administration.
“At every step along the way, [Martin’s] chose to invest and reinvest into the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Governor Shapiro and local leaders joined Martin’s executives to celebrate the company’s $123.2 million investment. Martin’s will add around 295,000 square feet to its facilities, helping to create 127 new jobs over the next five years.
“We like to say that your last name doesn’t have to be Martin to be part of the Martin family,” said Joe Martin, executive vice president of Martin’s. “We’re proud to add more jobs and support more families out there.”
The Department of Community and Economic Development is providing two grants to Martin’s as part of the expansion project totaling $669,000. Joe Martin said the assistance from the Shapiro administration was vital to help the business expand.
“Being able to get permitting and things properly analyzed helps us to make these investments, and these are big investments,” said Martin.
Governor Shapiro is celebrating the company’s expansion while calling on state lawmakers to provide more investment for Pennsylvania’s businesses. His proposed 2024-25 budget calls for $600 million for Shapiro’s economic development plan.
Governor Shapiro said investments into businesses like Martin’s will make Pennsylvania a more competitive state.
“We have to invest again,” said Gov. Shapiro. “We’ve been losing out to all of our neighbors; New York, Ohio, New Jersey, and others who invest a whole lot more than Pennsylvania does.”
That investment aims to bring even more jobs to Pennsylvanians.
"The investments that Pennsylvania can make, that money is multiplied over and over throughout the economy."
The Governor’s economic development plan calls for the following:
- $500 million in PA SITES funding to bring more commercial and industrial sites online in the Commonwealth.
- $25 million for the Main Street Matters program to invest in small businesses and local communities.
- $20 million to support large-scale innovation and research and development assets.
- $3.5 million to launch the Pennsylvania Regional Economic Competitiveness Challenge.