ERIE, Pa. (AP) -- GE Transportation says it will hire about 160 new employees in Erie by the end of the year and invest $136 million in manufacturing improvements and site upgrades at the company's headquarters.
The company says it plans to hire the production workers by the end of the year to meet rising demand for mining equipment in the United States and worldwide.
The investments will include $58 million in research and testing technology, $38 million to increase capacity and modernize equipment used for producing locomotives and other transportation products, and $40 million on facility upgrades at the 100-year-old Erie plant.
GE will also replace 200 early retirement positions with new workers. The company currently has about 5,300 employees in Erie.