NESQUEHONING Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary C. Alan Walker today toured Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp., where he praised the Carbon County fire apparatus manufacturer's recent expansion and its plans to hire 100 new employees this year.

Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) will expand its existing facility's capabilities in Nesquehoning to support its new product line - manufacturing water hauling tankers for police, fire and emergency services and the Marcellus Shale industry. The company has hired more than 60 new employees to date and plans to hire an additional 40 workers this year."When Governor Corbett formed the manufacturing advisory council to continue growing Pennsylvania's manufacturing tradition, he had companies like KME in mind," Walker said. "In operation for more than 60 years, KME continues to grow and create jobs in Northeast Pennsylvania."The company received a funding offer from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) through the Governor's Action Team (GAT), including $50,000 from Pennsylvania First, $11,250 in guaranteed free training and $361,712 from the Machine and Equipment Loan Fund. GAT worked with the Carbon County Economic Development Corporation to support KME's expansion project.Headquartered in Nesquehoning, Carbon County, KME is the largest privately-owned fire truck manufacturer in North America. The company custom manufactures a full line of emergency response vehicles including industrial foam trucks, tankers, and police vehicles for many major cities, counties, and all branches of the United States military.Walker's visit to Carbon County kicked off DCED on the Road, a series of events across Northeast Pennsylvania to discuss Governor Corbett's plans for economic growth, job creation and community development.Walker said that DCED representatives will spend three days traveling throughout Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne counties, visiting successful projects, and meeting with community, economic development and tourism partners."DCED on the Road provides a tremendous opportunity for the Corbett administration to get a firsthand look at the exciting growth and development that is taking place throughout the Northeast Region," Walker said.The DCED on the Road initiative is being funded and supported by the Team Pennsylvania Foundation, a private non-profit partnership with the commonwealth.For more information on DCED on the Road and other economic development initiatives in Pennsylvania, visit newPA.com/Roadshow or call 1-866-466-3972.Media contacts: Kelli Roberts, Governor's Office; 717-783-1116 Steven Kratz, DCED; 717-783-1132