Creating Jobs in Union County: Governor Shapiro Secures $10.9 Million Investment | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, PA - Today, Governor Josh Shapiro announced the Commonwealth has secured a $10.9 million investment as John Brothers Holdings revives a shuttered facility to begin manufacturing wood components in Union County. The Commonwealth is investing $450,000 to support the project, which will create 78 new jobs over the next three years and retain 465 existing positions.

John Brothers Holdings is acquiring the neighboring site and equipment of a closed cabinetry manufacturer at 100 Industrial Park Road in Mifflinburg. The company is also establishing a new subsidiary, John Brothers Wood Products, which will upgrade and reconfigure the plant's existing infrastructure to support wood component manufacturing aligned with the company's broader local supply chain. The company has begun hiring a number of previously displaced cabinetry manufacturing workers.

"Pennsylvania is proving that when we compete, we win," said Governor Shapiro. "This investment represents another major win for the future of Pennsylvania's manufacturing sector and Union County. We're backing our workforce, strengthening our infrastructure, and building an economy that helps businesses succeed here. My Administration will keep competing for - and winning - investments, jobs, and opportunity across the Commonwealth."

This project was coordinated by Governor Shapiro's BusinessPA team and John Brothers Holdings received a funding proposal from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for a $250,000 Pennsylvania First grant and a $200,000 WEDnetPA grant to train its workers.

The Pennsylvania First Program, which connects businesses with trained workers and supports job retention and capital investments, would receive an additional $10 million in Governor Shapiro's 2026-27 proposed budget, bringing the program's total funding to $38 million.

"Today's announcement reinforces that Pennsylvania is making strategic investments that deliver real results for our communities and our workforce," said DCED Secretary Rick Siger. "This expansion in Mifflinburg will create 78 new jobs, retain 465 existing positions, and bring new life to a previously shuttered facility. The launch of John Brothers Wood Products strengthens Pennsylvania's manufacturing supply chain while also creating a pathway for displaced workers to get back on the job. We're thrilled to support companies that are growing, investing, and building long-term opportunity right here in Pennsylvania."

Johns Brothers Holdings is a Pennsylvania-based, family-owned corporation headquartered in Mifflinburg.

"When we received the news that our neighboring business was shutting down and laying off 175 employees, we were as surprised as everyone else," said Paul D. John, President/CEO, John Brothers Holdings. "Our immediate thought was: how can we help? We started looking at whether we could put that facility and our community back to work by manufacturing products we were buying from outside sources, and whether we could build enough around that to support the investment. With input from our division managers and support from Governor Shapiro's team, we're finding a path forward. We're very excited to be hiring workers back. This will be a generational investment, but one we believe this community absolutely deserves."

"The commitment to our region from companies like John Brothers Holdings is inspiring," said Jennifer Wakeman, Executive Director, DRIVE. "Their investment brings jobs and opportunity which enrich our communities and we're happy to support their efforts."

Shapiro Administration's Progress to Grow Pennsylvania's Workforce and Strengthen the Economy

In every corner of the Commonwealth, manufacturers are expanding and creating real opportunities for Pennsylvanians - from Berwick Industries in Columbia County, Johnson & Johnson in Montgomery County, Eli Lilly in Lehigh County, Eurofins in Lancaster County, to Eos in Allegheny County, Nichols Portland in Elk County, Imperial Systems in Mercer County, Qualex in Venango County, and Tate in York County.

Growing Pennsylvania's Economy and Boosting Innovation

Governor Shapiro's 2026-27 budget proposal builds on that momentum by investing in long-term economic growth and ensuring communities across the Commonwealth can compete and win. This budget increases funding for innovation in the areas of opportunity laid out in Pennsylvania's economic development strategy - including life sciences, robotics and technology, energy, manufacturing, and agriculture.

• The PA First Program, which connects businesses with trained workers and supports job retention and capital investments, will receive an additional $10 million for a total of $38 million in this budget.
• Innovate in PA 2.0: Back in 2013 under a Republican Governor, Pennsylvania launched the Innovation fund. Building off of that legacy, this budget creates the Innovate in PA 2.0 program to deploy nearly $100 million into the state's innovation economy. Innovate in PA 2.0 would provide capital for promising startups - following in the footsteps of companies like Gecko Robotics in Pittsburgh or Gilson Snow in Selinsgrove - fund clinical trials for the life sciences and enhance the Commonwealth's innovation network to help these companies succeed.

Pennsylvania's Business Climate and Growing Economy is Earning National Recognition

Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has made Pennsylvania more competitive - attracting over $40.4 billion in private-sector investment while creating more than 22,400 good-paying jobs across the Commonwealth and earning national recognition.

• Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast with a growing economy, based on analysis done by Moody's Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi.
• Last year, according to a new analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Commonwealth ranked third in the nation for job growth.
• Area Development ranked Pennsylvania among the top 20 "Best States for Business" - the only Northeastern state to make the list - and placed the Commonwealth in the top 10 for "Site Readiness Programs."
• Site Selection Magazine named Pennsylvania one of the top business climates in the nation.
• Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that Pennsylvania ranks among the top states in the nation for five-year new business survival.

Learn more about the Shapiro Administration's efforts to support Pennsylvania's workers and businesses and spur the economy, to build a stronger, more competitive economy.

Read the Governor's 2026-27 proposed budget in brief here.