Champion Modular, Inc., a custom producer of homes and commercial structures, will purchase and reopen a vacant manufacturing facility in Susquehanna Township, Juniata County, Pennsylvania. The company plans to create 246 new jobs.

In order to develop a manufacturing site, as well as a technical center for engineering, design, sales, and support services for the company’s locations in other states, Champion will purchase and renovate a 120,000-square-foot facility previously operated by Innovative Building Systems’ Excel Homes at 10642 South Susquehanna Trail, Liverpool, Juniata County.

“Champion was drawn to this opportunity by the strength of the Excel Homes brand and the capability of the Excel workforce to build custom homes with unparalleled quality,” said Champion CEO/President Keith Anderson. “We look forward to building on that tradition of excellence to meet the needs and expectations of builders and developers in Pennsylvania and surrounding states.”

According to state officials, the company committed to investing $4,830,000 in the project, which will include the purchase and renovation of the site, new equipment procurement, and acquisition of IBS’s intellectual property. Champion has committed to the creation of 246 new, full-time jobs over the next three years.

As an incentive, Champion received a funding proposal from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development that includes a $300,000 Pennsylvania First Program grant, $492,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits to be distributed upon creation of the new jobs, and $81,000 in WEDnetPA funding for employee training.

“Champion is not only reopening a site that closed in May 2016 and putting it back to good use, but it also hopes to hire many of workers who lost their jobs when the previous company filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy and ceased operations,” said Governor Tom Wolf. “On behalf of the commonwealth and the local communities affected by this project, I applaud Champion for its decision to expand operations in Juniata County and thank it for its outstanding contribution to the region’s economic well-being.”