110 new jobs coming to Green Bay

GREEN BAY - On Thursday, Schwabe North America announced it is consolidating its manufacturing and distribution operations into a new facility in Green Bay. The move will retain 280 jobs and create an additional 110 positions at the company.

Schwabe manufactures dietary supplements and natural medicines.

The herbal medicines are sold to health food stores, mass merchants and health care professionals.

The new distribution facility is located at 1401 Ontario Rd. on the city's east side. It is expected to open by December 1.

"It's nice to have the opportunity to grow the business and all of our people are growing along with that so it's a great situation for Green Bay," said Randy Rose, the CEO of Schwabe North America.

Governor Jim Doyle said the state was able to offer Schwabe nearly $1 million in incentives to consolidate in Wisconsin. The package includes a $500,000 forgivable loan and $400,000 in tax credits.

The consolidation will allow the company to brings its different brands under one roof.

"We will be moving all of that production here in stages so that the Green Bay facility will produce all of the products," said Rose.

"The biggest factor is that this is really a good place to do business, good work force, they obviously have really good facilities here," said Doyle.

Doyle also said it's a sign some areas of the economy are turning around, but he said recent unemployment numbers are still troubling.

"7.5% is nothing to brag about. 7.5% means a lot of really good people are still out of work in this state," said Doyle.

According to the Department of Workforce Development, state unemployment was 7.7% last month. One year ago, it was 4.2%.