The Coastal Companies, aleading regional produce and dairy supplier, broke ground Monday on its new corporate headquarters in Laurel, Maryland.The company plans to complete its240,000 square-foot facility by 2016 and to create 400 new jobs by 2018, Secretary Dominick Murray of theMaryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) announced.

The new facility will house several company divisionsincluding Coastal Sunbelt Produce, East Coast Fresh, Cold Chain Logistics, Cold Chain Imports and The Coastal Companies Foundationandwill be locatedjust three miles from the company's current facility in Savage.The Coastal Companies' decision to expand in Maryland was the direct result of State and county assistance.DBED approved a $1 million conditional loan with the requirement that the company retain jobs in Maryland. Howard County also provided $150,000 in property tax credits and expedited the review of applications and permitsthrough its Fast Track Development Process.

"We appreciate the support we have received from the State of Maryland and Howard County,"said The Coastal Companies CEO John Corso."We believe our new headquarters will help us maintain our robust growth for years to come."

"When we learned that The Coastal Companies was looking at several options as they sought room to grow, our whole team went to work. It took a hands-on approach and great partnerships to identify the right property and get it ready for this project,"said Howard County Executive Ulman."Coastal is a great corporate citizen, and I am proud of the training and advancement opportunities they provide for their workforce. It is great news for the state and the region that they are growing, right here in Howard County."