Steel manufacturer JGM Welding & Fabricating Services, Inc. is expanding its operations center in Chester County, Pennsylvania, creating at least 44 jobs.

JGM Welding & Fabricating Services, a structural steel fabricator, will expand operations and lease a 75,000-square-foot facility located in Valley Township, Chester County. The project is expected to generate a capital investment in excess of $2.5 million in infrastructure improvement, equipment and employee training costs.

“JGM applauds the state’s continued support of manufacturing businesses in Pennsylvania,” said Joe Messner, President and CEO of JGM. “With the support from the state at our new Coatesville facility, JGM will increase jobs for skilled workers and positively impact our customers, suppliers and the communities we serve.”

“Supporting the growth of businesses like JGM is bringing the Pennsylvania economy back and creating new job opportunities for our workforce,” Gov. Tom Corbett said. “JGM’s addition of 44 new jobs is the second jobs announcement in Chester County this year with the resulting total job creation projected to be more than 130 for the county.”

As an incentive, the company received a funding offer from the Department of Community and Economic Development, including a $125,000 Pennsylvania First Program grant, $44,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits and a $19,800 Guaranteed Free Training grant, to be used for training its new workforce at the project site. The company will also be eligible to apply for a $1.1 million loan from the Machine and Equipment Loan Fund to be repaid within 10 years.

The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team in collaboration with the Chester County Economic Development Council and the Chester County Board of Commissioners.

“We are thrilled to have JGM, Inc., an innovative steel manufacturing company, growing their business within the Coatesville market and reinvigorating the heritage steel industry in Valley Township,” said Gary Smith, President and CEO of Chester County Economic Development Council.