Dole Food to invest $9m in Springfield plant expansion

US-based Dole Food is expanding its footprint in Clark County by setting up three new packaging lines and one processing line at its Springfield plant at a cost of close to $9m.

The expansion is expected to be completed by next year and will create up to 140 new jobs.

The company, which started its Springfield plant in 2003, employs close to 800 people. The 150,000ft² site packages fresh vegetable salads primarily for the East Coast markets.

Plant manager John Lochra was quoted by Dayton Business Journal (DBJ) as saying: "Our Springfield facility was the best location for us to expand and add this new capacity. This investment will add new capabilities to our Springfield operations allowing us to supply the north-eastern portion of the United States more efficiently."

The expansion will also include the renovation of an existing building, and the purchase of new machinery and equipment.

A 50% nine-year job creation tax credit was approved by the Ohio tax credit authority for the project, which will require the company to maintain operations in the Springfield plant for a minimum of 12 years.

The Springfield expansion by Dole comes one month after Speedway announced it will create up to 350 jobs with a $9.1m expansion at the NextEdge Applied Research and Technology Park on East National Road.

The area is already home to various regional food distribution and production companies such as Dole, Gordon Food Service, Bob Evans, Reiter Dairy, Woeber Mustard and Robert Rothschilds Farm.