Sharon bakery selling cookies across the country after $650,000 expansion

A Sharon bakery owner is ready to extend her footprint well beyond the Shenango Valley. It's all possible because of a $650,000 expansion at Allie's Sweet Tooth.

The investment gives the owner the opportunity to mass produce her cookies, and sell them to distribution companies.

“We'll be taking these cookies, making them. They will be picked up from big distribution companies and distributed across the United States,” said Allie Adams, owner of Allie's Sweet Tooth.

Adams said the expansion would not have been possible without the support from community groups and the City of Sharon.

“This community opens their arms to everybody. As soon as they see someone move in, there’s people walking in the door asking what they can do, how they can help,” said Adams.

Penn Northwest Development Corporation and the Shenango Valley Enterprise Zone Corporation gave around $285,000 to make Allie's dream a reality.

This money will help fund the equipment Allie needs to mass produce her cookies.

“This new piece of machinery that would expand her operation to a national level. Really, it's an export of product and an influx of dollars into the country,” said Jake Rickert, associate executive director of Penn Northwest Development Corporation. “She had a great vision. She succeeded everywhere she went. So, for us, writing this loan, it just made sense.”

Members of the community, and Allie's family came out to support the business. 

Pennsylvania State Senator Michele Brooks also went to the celebration. She said Allie is one example of how business owners can thrive in Mercer County.

“We may be small but we are mighty, and we have great things happening in Mercer County. We continue to grow and it's a great place to live, raise your family and work,” said Brooks.

Allie said unlike many mass produced cookies, she will continue using her equipment, fillings and recipes.

“I already did all our research on our equipment and we built our own equipment to work with our doughs. So, they are not like your standard mass produced cookie. They’re still our recipes, our fillings and all made from scratch,” said Allie.

Allie started her business in 2009 after making cookies for her daughter's birthday party. During her years as a baker, Allie has made cookies for the NFL and the Kentucky Derby.

The bakery has been part of downtown Sharon for over a year, and specializes in decorative cookies.