(Hazleton, PA – May 22, 2013) – American Eagle Outfitters, Inc., a leading specialty retailer with more than 920 stores in the U.S. and Canada that targets younger consumers, announced today that it is constructing a one million square foot direct-to-consumer distribution center in Humboldt Industrial Park, Hazle Township.

Today’s announcement was made by AEO during an earnings teleconference with investors and by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett in a press statement that said the company will invest more than $160 million to construct the distribution center that will bring 369 new jobs to Greater Hazleton over the next four years. AEO will also employ around 600 more part-time workers during peak seasons.

“AEO’s decision to locate its newest distribution center in Humboldt Industrial Park is further testament to what many other companies located here already know… Greater Hazleton is a perfect location for industry, not only because of our ideal location in the Northeast, but also for our dedicated quality workforce,” said Kevin O’Donnell, CAN DO’s president.

Internet services provider Web.com recently announced that it will merge another facility into its existing facility in the CAN DO Corporate Center, which currently operates as Network Solutions.

In Greater Hazleton, employers have many resources that can help them succeed in business, including a food-processing industry partnership that brings together companies with similar operations.

Employers in Greater Hazleton continue to find that the area has an excellent workforce in terms of available workers, skills, trainability and more.

Industries such as food processing, plastics, and logistics and transportation have located facilities in Greater Hazleton.

PECO Pallet and E.S. Kluft have recently leased space in CAN DO’s largest industrial park, Humboldt Industrial Park, while GENCO has expanded its facility in the park for the second time.

Progressive Converting (Pro-Con), the largest independent paper converter by market share in the United States, has leased 212,964 square feet of industrial space in Humboldt Industrial Park, Hazle Township, from Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services.

Pro-Con also operates a 230,000 square foot converting, warehouse and distribution facility on Maplewood Road in Humboldt and will continue to operate that facility.

One of the nation’s largest third party logistics (3PL) companies is expanding its operations in Humboldt Industrial Park.

For the second time in less than four months, GENCO has leased more than 200,000 square feet of industrial space from Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services at 61 Green Mountain Road in Humboldt Industrial Park, East Union Township, Schuylkill County. The firm now leases the entire 408,200 square foot building.

PECO Pallet, a Yonkers, New York based pallet rental services company, has leased industrial space from Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services in Humboldt Industrial Park North, Hazle Township, Luzerne County. The firm expects to create 40 new jobs.

GENCO ATC, North America’s second-largest and a Global top 25 third-party logistics (3PL) provider, has leased 203,821 square feet from Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services in Humboldt Industrial Park West.

The company will use the space to provide warehousing, distribution and supply chain services to a large consumer goods company.

GENCO ATC has leased space from Mericle at 61 Green Mountain Road, East Union Township, Schuylkill County and expects to begin operations early this fall.

E. S. Kluft & Company, maker and distributor of Aireloom and Kluft brand mattresses, has signed a long-term lease for nearly 99,000 square feet of newly constructed state-of-the-art production space from Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services in Humboldt Industrial Park North, Hazle Township, PA.

The company has already begun to recruit 50 new employees and expects to start production in mid October. Kluft expects to double the number of jobs during the initial term of its lease.