World Kitchen outlines upgrade plans

By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
Charleroi council and Corelle Brands are hoping to continue a decades long tradition and partnership as the company plans to begin a $16 million facility upgrade this year.
During an agenda meeting Wednesday, Kerry Fox of the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County, Corelle Plant Manager John Lackovic and Human Resources Manager Donald Good outlined the project, which was announced in November after the World Kitchen facility received the Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence.
Supported in part by a $2.5 million grant from the state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, the upgrades will help the company retain the existing 350 jobs at the plant and position the facility — which has produced Pyrex glassware for the past 70 years — for future growth and sustainability.
Lackovic explained to council that the plant’s furnaces are up for a rebuild this year.
But the multi-million dollar project is not only to rebuild, it will also modernize the facility, he said.

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