A growing Ferrara Candy is building a new distribution complex in DeKalb that is expected to employ 500 people by spring of next year. The Chicago-based candy company, which is investing more than $100 million in the project, will be DeKalb’s largest industrial employer once the complex is complete, a transformative development for the college town whose local economy suffered severe blows during the Great Recession, said City Manager Bill Nicklas.

“The faith of this company in DeKalb is a real shot in the arm,” Nicklas said in an interview Monday. “Many of those jobs are going to be career jobs. That will mean people settling in our area and coming to our schools.” Ferrara, maker of Lemonheads and Trolli, has been adding employees since its parent company, Italy’s Ferrero Group, acquired Kellogg’s cookie business last year and Nestle’s U.S. confectionery portfolio in 2018, giving it control of legacy brands from Keebler to Butterfinger to Nerds.