UPDATED Tuesday, January 31, 2012--10:15p.m.

BELOIT--Kerry Ingredients & Flavours opened its 260,000 square foot customer center in 2009 with about 600 employees. But now, they're adding to it. "Now we're expanding another 30,000 square feet, we're adding another up to 50 new jobs," said Jim Egan, the director of communication programs for Kerry Ingredients & Flavours.

Egan said they're adding office space and creating more laboratories. They're hoping to have both done by June. "Our customers demand for innovation for new products that Kerry can provide is driving this expansion for us," he said.

It's good news for Rock County and follows last week's announcement by SHINE Medical Technologies that they plan to build a manufacturing plant in Janesville. And there's talk of a casino coming to Beloit too. "In Rock County in general unemployment's about ten percent right now and it was even higher a few years back,” said Joshua Hall, an assistant professor of Economics at Beloit College. “And it's usually a good two to three percentage points higher than comparable counties in both Wisconsin and nationwide."

Hall said in Beloit things have been rough recently because it's an industrial city--and manufacturing's been particularly hard hit these last few years. But these recent announcements may signal that Rock County's on the rebound. "This area, Rock County and the entire state-line area is attracting more companies because they're feeling it's a place they can expand, we have a good quality workforce," he said.

He also said there's plenty of retail and factory space available, and said expansions like Kerry's lead to more jobs and spending in the area—helping things like sales taxes. "Last couple years been pretty bad for sales taxes in Rock County but 2011 picked up over 2010 and I don't see any reason why that shouldn't increase in 2012," he said.

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Posted Tuesday, January 31, 2012 --- 11:15 a.m.

BELOIT, Wis. (AP) -- Kerry Ingredients & Flavours said Tuesday it will invest $10 million to expand its Beloit plant, a move that will add nearly 50 new jobs.

The company plans to add 30,000 square feet to its existing plant, which is currently 260,000 square feet. The Journal Sentinel says a cell science technology lab will be located in the new addition, which could be done by August.

Kerry Ingredients makes ingredients and flavors for the food and beverage industry.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.