Kerry Ingredients commits to Jackson expansion

The Business Journal 
Sean Ryan, Reporter 

Kerry Ingredients has committed to a proposed expansion of its Jackson facility, a project the village and Washington County competed for against other communities the Irish company considered.

Kerry plans a 120,000-square-foot expansion of its existing manufacturing plant in Jackson that will create up to 60 jobs. Washington County will provide a $480,000 loan to the project and the village is expected to provide $1.8 million through a tax incremental financing district, according to an announcement from Economic Development Washington County.

Construction will begin this month and production is anticipated to begin in fall 2014. Kerry produces ingredients and flavors for the food and beverage industry.

Kerry is expanding the plant as part of a nationwide re-evaluation of its U.S. operations. The company has more than 30 manufacturing facilities in the United States. The expansion in Kerry could have occurred at one of those other locations.

"We are very proud of our Jackson facility, which is our first manufacturing plant in the U.S., and are most appreciative of the long-standing partnership we have with the village, the county and the state,” said Jason Ampe, Kerry operations director.