DelGrosso Foods, the oldest family-owned pasta sauce producer in the United States, will expand its manufacturing operations in Blair County, Pennsylvania. The $60 million project will retain 90 current positions and create roughly 50 new, full-time jobs over the next three years.

The company will convert a recently acquired 166,000 square-foot vacant facility in Antis Township into an expanded pasta sauce manufacturing space through the addition of a new sauce manufacturing line, allowing the company to more than double its production.

“We’ve made numerous additions to our existing Tipton sauce plant over the decades, adding warehousing space and expanded production capacity where we could. In order to continue to grow, our only option at this point is to add a second facility,” said second-generation family member and CEO Joe DelGrosso. “It’s the largest step in the history of the family business since my parents packed those first cans of sauce over 70 years ago.”

DelGrosso received a funding proposal from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for a $166,800 workforce development grant to help the company train workers and was encouraged to apply for the department’s Manufacturing Tax Credit (MTC) program.

“DelGrosso Foods is a nationally recognized food manufacturer known by many Pennsylvanians, whether in the grocery store aisle or at home in our kitchens, and it has supplied consumers across the country with its trusted products for decades,” said Governor Tom Wolf. “My administration is pleased to support this second- and third-generation run, historic Pennsylvania business in its latest expansion in the commonwealth that will increase production capabilities and bring new, good-paying jobs to Altoona and surrounding communities.”

The company was also approved for a $1.5 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant as an incentive.

“There is no better economic development strategy than helping home-grown manufacturers expand. The DelGrosso name is not just a business, it’s a family and community favorite,” said Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation President and CEO Stephen McKnight. “We appreciate the support the administration has provided along with the engagement from our local elected officials.”