New plant to bring jobs many crave

VANDALIA, Ohio (WDTN) - Ground was broken Tuesday on a new White Castle frozen food facility expected to add 100 positions.

But in a state starved for jobs, Governor John Kasich isn't ready to swallow the idea just yet that things are okay, even though the state's unemployment rate of 7.2 percent is a point below the national average.

"I'm anxious about the future because the economy is so uncertain but we're seeing good results," Kasich says.

Kasich got a taste of those results at the groundbreaking for Vandalia's new White Castle facility.

The $18 million plant will make the frozen White Castle's you can buy in grocery stores across the country, but the burgers are heating up more than just microwaves, as higher sales led White Castle to consider adding the new plant.

When it came to finding a place to put it, Vandalia and a reported 55 percent tax credit seemed to hit the spot.

"The nice thing about Vandalia is it's location," says White Castle CEO Bill Ingram. "The logistics of moving the product in and out of here are very good."

Those in Vandalia say White Castle will fit in well.

It's the kind of company that uses spatula's instead of shovels for a groundbreaking and has already donated money to the community's food pantry.

"We're like a family and White Castle is also so we can see them becoming very involved in our community," says Vandalia Mayor Arlene Setzer.

Construction is supposed to start this fall with the building being finished by next summer.