The Maryland Department of Commerce approved a $1 million conditional grant for Frito-Lay Inc. to help with a planned expansion of its manufacturing and distribution facility in Aberdeen.
The grant hinges on the PepsiCo unit adding 140 jobs by 2018, the Commerce Department said. The plant employed 370 full-time and 40 part-time employees as of November, when the Aberdeen City Council approved a $60 million, 42,700-square-foot warehouse expansion that also will allow the company to install two more manufacturing lines to make Cheetos.
The company also recently completed a 160,000-square-foot warehouse expansion that made the Hickory Drive plant one of Frito-Lay's largest nationwide. Frito-Lay officials did not respond to requests for comment.
"It is a tremendous win for the state and for Harford County that Frito-Lay is continuing to grow its presence in Maryland," Gov. Larry Hogan said Thursday in the announcement.
The Plano, Texas-based company opened the Aberdeen plant in 1994 to produce snacks such as Tostitos Scoops and Sun Chips.
Besides the state grant through the Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority and Fund, the company is eligible for state and local tax credits. And the Harford County Office of Economic Development plant to provide up to $100,000 in workforce technical training grants over the next eight years.
"Frito-Lay is not only a national household brand but a local workforce icon here in Harford County," Harford County Executive Barry Glassman said in the announcement.
Aberdeen Mayor Patrick L. McGrady said the company has been a source of good-paying jobs and "solid community activity from the employees."