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New Westmoreland Development Council Combines Economic Efforts
Posted 11-3-2005
The time and place could not be better for the long-anticipated creation
of Westmoreland County's one-stop-shop for economic development. The groups
announced on November 3 the creation of an umbrella organization called the
Westmoreland Development Council to coordinate economic development
activities in a new co-location.
The county's two primary
economic development agencies, the Westmoreland County Industrial
Development Corporation (WCIDC) and the Economic Growth Connection of
Westmoreland (EGC) will bring together a unique public/private relationship
committed to the needs of business. They will be joined by the Westmoreland
County Department of Planning and Development and the Redevelopment
Authority of the County of Westmoreland at the new location.
Founded in 1983 by the Board
of Commissioners, the WCIDC, a non-profit corporation, promotes economic
development in Westmoreland County with a major focus on developing
industrial parks. To date, WCIDC owns and operates 14 industrial parks
strategically located throughout the county, housing more than 110 companies
that employ more than 7,000 workers. The county commissioners serve as the
board of directors for the WCIDC -- Chairman Tom Balya, Vice Chairman Tom
Ceraso, and Secretary Phil Light.
Formed in January 2000, the
EGC provides the private sector leadership to develop business opportunities
and financing that creates and retains quality jobs in Westmoreland County
and the region. EGC has assisted financing projects totaling more than $68
million with a total investment of $220 million. These financial packages
have created 2,000 new positions and retained more than 8,000 jobs in
Westmoreland County.
Together over the years,
these agencies have teamed-up, providing support and service to the business
community of Westmoreland County.
"It has reached a point where
it only makes good sense that the robust energy of both organizations
operate under an umbrella," said IDC Chairman, County Commissioner Tom
Balya.
With the formation of the
Westmoreland Development Council comes an announcement that these agencies
will be co-locating in a proposed four-story addition to the county's
Courthouse Square Extension. The Courthouse Square Extension is situated
directly behind the Westmoreland County Courthouse on the corner of Otterman
Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.
EGC proposes to lease the air
rights above Courthouse Square Extension and will construct up to four new
floors totaling 64,000 square feet over the existing structure as a
design/build project. The total cost of construction is estimated to be
$6-$8 million. The agencies will occupy the top floor (fifth floor;
approximately 16,000 square feet) of the building.
"By finally having the
strength of all these agencies at one location, economic development in
Westmoreland County will become seamless," said Richard Kacin, Chairman of
the Board of Directors for the EGC. "This is truly the one-stop-shop we've
all been waiting for."
An additional benefit of the
project will be to offer space to Westmoreland County. Two of the proposed
floors (second and third floors), containing approximately 32,000 square
feet, may be leased back to the county to house the Westmoreland County
Children's Bureau.
The county Children's Bureau
was created in the 1930s as an agency mandated by the federal government and
designated by the state to administer programs at the local level to protect
children from abuse and neglect, preserve families wherever possible, and
ensure that every child under their care and supervision has a safe, stable,
and permanent home in which to grow. The Bureau currently operates within
the confines of the Westmoreland County Courthouse Annex.
"We are a committed agency
that continues to make significant strides in reaching the state's goals and
federal outcomes, while practicing improvement," said Children's Bureau
Administrator Marilyn McSparrin.
An important financial
advantage of the project outlined by the joint-venture arrangement is that
approximately 80 percent of the costs for the county's lease payments, which
includes the Children's Bureau, Planning, and Redevelopment Authority, will
be reimbursed from state and federal funding. The fourth floor of the
building may be constructed at this time for lease to outside entities with
any income generated used to reduce the joint-venture obligation. At the
conclusion of the long-term leases with the county, it will have the option
to purchase its two floors for $1.
Both advisory and technical
committees overseeing the proposed addition project are in the process of
finalizing details on floor plans and interior layouts. These plans show
that the proposed addition will connect to the existing Courthouse Annex via
a walkway over Pennsylvania Avenue from the third floor of the new building
to the first floor of the existing Courthouse Annex. This will enable the
general public to enter the new offices of the Children's Bureau at a
designated location for visitation and family interaction after being
properly screened by security officials.
Construction for the proposed
addition is expected to begin in April 2006, with completion of the building
anticipated by August 2007.
For more information, contact
the WCIDC at 724-830-3061. |
