The Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority approved a $2-million low interest loan for J.E. Morgan Mills, as part of a $5-million expansion of the giant thermal underwear manufacturer.

Morgan will construct a 136,000-square-foot warehouse in the Tidewood Industrial Park over the next nine months.

The new warehouse will employ 50 people and retain 1,250 existing jobs at the company’s main Hometown facility.

The loan was secured through the efforts of the Tamaqua Industrial Development Enterprises (TIDE) and the Schuylkill County Economic Development Corporation. Ted Block, TIDE president, credited officials from Rush Township and Tamaqua Borough with assisting in the project. Expansion of the Tamaqua sewer treatment plant was a major asset in helping industrial growth in the area.