There must be something in the water in southwest Baltimore County ? or in the muffins.
Part of expanding businesses in Halethorpe, or the Southwest Enterprise Zone, Baltimore-based Bakery Express broke ground on its new location in the heart of the growth. Developed by local contractor Merritt Properties, the land will house a new 210,000-square-foot factory.
Championing the development was Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith, who has called the Southwest Enterprise Zone a “business renaissance.”
Through the use of incentives, Smith said he has been able to “help companies grow and make this type of capital and real estate investment.” This growth includes both the new plant and new jobs.
Companies in the Enterprise Zone are eligible for state and county property tax credits, as well as tax credits for each new job brought to the area. Georgetown Bakery Management Corp., the parent company of Bakery Express, has received loans from the county totaling about $750,000.
But officials say it is worth the effort to help draw companies.
The development will bring more than 300 new jobs to Baltimore County, as the company?s three divisions ? Jeanne?s Gourmet, Ms Desserts and Bakery Express ? will be consolidated into the Halethorpe facility.
“Today is a milestone day,” said Charlie Burman, founder and chief executive officer of Bakery Express. “Our production right now is choked, while our customer needs are increasing. We need to accelerate our production, and we will now be at over [210,000] square feet, and that will help us to move more product, fresh every day, which is what our customer expects and what we plan to deliver.”
Located just off Interstates 695 and 895, the location is convenient for distribution.
