The Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority on Wednesday approved a $2 million low interest loan for the J.E. Morgan Mills, as part of a $5 million expansion of the giant thermal underwear manufacturer.

Morgan will construct a 136,000-square-foot warehouse in the Tidewood Industrial Park over the next nine months.

The new warehouse will employ 50 people and retain 1,250 existing jobs at the main Hometown facility.

The loan was secured through the efforts of the Tamaqua Industrial Development Enterprises and the Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation.