HARIBO has finally decided to open a manufacturing facility in North America for the first time since the German candy maker started its operations in 1920. According to a report on CBS News, the international candy maker has chosen Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, to be the location of its first North American manufacturing facility.

Governor Scott Walker warmly welcomed the decision of HARIBO to establish its North American manufacturing facility in Wisconsin. The governor's reaction is not surprising given that the plan will provide at least 300 new jobs for Wisconsin residents.

HARIBO is expected to shell out about $242 million to build the manufacturing facility, whose location is near Chicago. The project is anticipated to be completed in 2020.

ABC 7 Chicago reported that the German gummy bear maker's planned manufacturing facility may be the biggest investment that Wisconsin has gotten from a foreign company. In applauding the decision, Walker highlighted the state's business friendly environment and strong fiscal management, seeking to reassure prospective investors that they would be welcome in case they have plans to pour money into the state.

The size of the manufacturing facility would be 500,000 square feet, making it the third largest candy plant in the United States. The state and the gummy bear maker have been in talks about the projects about six months before they decided to announce the final decision.

Based from the statement of HARIBO Chief Financial Officer Wes Saber, the manufacturing plant in Kenosha county will not be the last one that the gummy bear maker will open in the United States. The manufacturing facility will just be the first one, but there are plans to expand throughout the country.

In other news, Jobs & Hire previously reported that Starbucks will create 240,000 jobs around the world by 2021.