Western Pa. ice cream cone plant plans expansion

HERMITAGE, Pa.

A western Pennsylvania ice cream cone plant is planning a $21 million expansion that officials there say could add up to 50 jobs.

The Joy Cone Co. of Hermitage, Mercer County, now has more than 320 employees.

Gov. Ed Rendell's office says the expansion has been approved for $2.1 million in state assistance. Most of that is a $2 million loan from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority, but it also includes money for job training and job creation tax credits.

The company makes 1.5 billion cones each year combined at the plant in Mercer County, northwest of Pittsburgh, and another in Flagstaff, Ariz.