GRANT TO HELP CREATE & SAVE JOBS IN READING

          Reading, May 19, 2004 -- At an event this afternoon at Quaker Maid Meats (521 Carroll Street, Reading), State Senator Michael A. O’Pake along with Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Yablonsky announced the awarding of a $600,000 state Opportunity Grant to the City of Reading to demolish a dilapidated building along Morgantown Road and clean the site, paving the way for Quaker Maid Meats to build a new 40,000 square foot building.

          "This state economic development grant represents an important investment in the future of Reading and Berks County," said Senator O’Pake. "It is vitally important that we help well-established and well-respected companies, like Quaker Maid Meats, continue to grow and prosper for our city’s and county’s economic well-being. This state grant award will help us achieve that goal."

          The business expansion project is expected to save 126 existing good paying jobs and create 50 new positions. Without the state grant funding, Quaker Maid Meats may not have been able to keep its operation in the City of Reading. Quaker Maid Meats is the largest producer of "Philadelphia Steaks" for both retail sale and restaurants in the United States.

          Also attending the event were Reading Mayor Tom McMahon, Albert Boscov, CEO of Boscovs Department Stores, Inc., and founder of Our City Reading, Inc, and other state officials.

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