PetSmart officially opened its newly designed $50 million distribution center that will add at least 500 new jobs in the area around Berks County, Pennsylvania. The firm constructed an 870,000-square-foot distribution center in Berks Park 78, an industrial park located in Bethel Township.

The new facility will serve 25 percent of PetSmart’s stores in 11 states, handling and delivering consumables, hard goods and fish to 170 PetSmart stores in 2014 and more than 260 stores by 2015. The new distribution center will bring an estimated 500 jobs to Berks County by the end of 2016.

“We are excited for PetSmart to become a part of the local Bethel community,” said PetSmart CEO David Lenhardt. “PetSmart operates 55 stores and employs more than 2,000 people throughout the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the opening of this new facility is a continuation of our commitment to growing in this area of the country. We look forward to providing opportunities for our existing associates as well as adding new team members from Bethel and the surrounding areas.”

Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley said, “This investment by PetSmart reaffirms Pennsylvania’s role as the keystone state to U.S. markets and is a testament to the talent and available workforce here in the region.” The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team in collaboration with the Berks County Industrial Development Authority.