Harrisburg, Pa. - An Australian-based manufacturer of medical safety devices that had planned to relocate its headquarters to Lewisberry has decided to transfer its operations to a larger facility in York County, Gov. Ed Rendell announced Friday.

Unilife Medical Solutions announced in April that it was relocating to a leased facility in Lewisberry, but Rendell said projected demand for the company's products has compelled Unilife to build a new facility.

The yet-to be determined site will house Unilife's primary manufacturing operations and serve as its corporate headquarters.

Unilife had planned to hire 20 to 30 people over the next few years, bringing the total employees at its Lewisberry facility to about 100. The expansion, however, will create 241 new jobs by the end of 2012, Rendell said.

The company will retain its 87 existing employees, who will move from its Lewisberry facility to the new building upon completion.

Pennsylvania is providing the company with a $5.2 million funding package that includes a $500,000 opportunity grant, a $2 million loan from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority, a $2 million grant through either the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program or the Infrastructure Facilities Improvement Program, $200,000 in job training assistance and $482,000 in job creation tax credits.

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