Pennsylvania Ribbon Factory Reopens, Creating 125 New Jobs

A factory that went dark just last year is about to buzz with life again, and 125 Pennsylvania families will have new opportunities because of it.

Berwick Industries Incorporated is investing $5 million to reopen a ribbon and bow manufacturing facility in Columbia County that closed in 2025. The company purchased the former Berwick Offray production plant at 1200 East 9th Street, bringing advanced manufacturing back to a community that knows this industry well.

Governor Josh Shapiro announced the Commonwealth is backing the project with over $3 million in support, including loans, grants, and worker training programs. The state's investment includes a $2.8 million loan, a $200,000 Pennsylvania First grant, and $150,000 specifically dedicated to training the new workforce.

This isn't just any ribbon factory. Every product made here will supply Workhorse Group Companies, which sells to retail giants like Walmart, Target, and Costco. That means the bows topping gifts across America could soon carry a "Made in Pennsylvania" stamp.

CEO Carey Edwards emphasized the company isn't simply reopening old doors. The facility will blend traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation, raising manufacturing standards while honoring the region's industrial heritage.

The timing matters for workers who lost jobs when the previous facility closed. The project specifically targets dislocated workers, giving experienced manufacturers a second chance in the industry they know.

The Ripple Effect

This reopening represents more than one factory coming back online. It's part of a larger manufacturing resurgence across Pennsylvania, where companies from Johnson & Johnson to Eli Lilly are expanding operations and creating opportunities.

Columbia County's industrial corridors will see renewed activity, strengthening the entire region's economic foundation. Local workforce training programs and vocational education partnerships are already gearing up to support the influx of new manufacturing positions.

The project demonstrates how public and private sectors can work together to revive communities hit by plant closures. Strategic investments in infrastructure, training, and support systems create conditions where businesses want to grow.

Since taking office, the Shapiro Administration has secured $40.4 billion in private sector investments across Pennsylvania, creating more than 22,400 new jobs statewide. Manufacturing continues driving that growth, proving American production can compete globally when given the right support.

Pennsylvania is proving that manufacturing towns don't have to stay down when factories close—sometimes they just need the right partnership to rise again.