VICTORVILLE, CA-The Dr Pepper Snapple Group’s new manufacturingand distribution facility has opened here. The 850,000-square-footproperty, at the Southern California Logistics Airport, is one ofthe largest construction projects completed across the country thisyear.

Keith Metzler, director of economic development for the city,said a pro-business climate helped bring the company to the area.“This project represents a positive development amidst the backdropof a challenging Southern California economy and will pave the wayfor additional high-caliber corporations to follow,” he said in astatement.

The facility serves as the company’s western manufacturing anddistribution hub, bringing up to 40 million cases of product toCalifornia and parts of the Southwest. The site is made up a550,000-square-foot distribution center, five filling lines, officespace, and beverage processing and support systems. The Plano,TX-based firm will manufacture and distribute soft drink and juicebrands such as Snapple, A&W Root Beer, Schweppes, Squirt, RCCola, Mott’s, 7UP and Hawaiian Punch at the property.