Corbett Administration Awards Grant to Support Development and Job Creation in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania

BROOKVILLE, Pa., Dec. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary C. Alan Walker was joined today by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati and Speaker of the House Sam Smith to award a state grant to develop the Jefferson County Business Park to attract new industry and jobs.

"With the emergence of the natural gas boom and a resurgence of manufacturing, Governor Tom Corbett is preparing Pennsylvania to attract these new opportunities for job creation and economic growth," Walker said. "Senator Scarnati and Speaker Smith share the same vision and the administration could not ask for better partners in building a strong foundation for Pennsylvania's future."

Walker announced the awarding of a $250,000 Infrastructure Development Program (IDP) grant to the Jefferson County Industrial Development Authority to develop the Jefferson County Business Park. The IDP funds will be used to extend the water, sewer and infrastructure to the park to make the site more attractive to potential tenants.

Located at a prime location off of Interstate 80 in Pine Creek Township, the 166 acre site will be subdivided into 25 to 32 lots for business development. Once the infrastructure improvements are completed, the developer, Nine Star Capital LP, will work to attract energy, transportation, manufacturing and healthcare businesses to the site.

"We have a great workforce to offer companies that want to locate here," Scarnati said. "I am pleased that this substantial investment in our community will help to attract new industry and bring additional employment opportunities to the area."

Smith said the creation of this business park is great news for Jefferson County.

"This area will provide a central location for the businesses and industries that are currently shaping our future, and therefore, offering jobs locally and across western Pennsylvania," Smith said. "Infrastructure development is a crucial step to any project of this nature. Local taxes would never be able to fund this alone, so I am also very happy to see state tax dollars being returned to Jefferson County to help us lay the groundwork for this important economic development project."   

Walker thanked Scarnati and Smith for their support of the project. He also praised the Jefferson County Commissioners, Paul Corbin, Jim McIntyre and Jeff Pisarcik, for thinking strategically and planning for the future.

For more information about the Department of Community and Economic Development and other job creation initiatives in Pennsylvania, visit newPA.com or call 1-866-466-3972.

Media contact: Steve Kratz, 717-783-1132

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development