Governor Rendell: New State Investments Will Create Thousands of New Jobs in Allegheny County

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 13, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today said Pennsylvania has awarded $84 million for 19 projects throughout Allegheny County that will provide the foundation for the creation of more than 10,000 new jobs.

"We've been investing in Pennsylvania communities and businesses since the start of my administration with great success," the Governor said. "The 19 new investments we are announcing today will go a long way toward ensuring the health and viability of these communities for many years to come."

Funding for the 19 projects comes from the state's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, which operates on a reimbursement basis as construction expenses are billed and paid on projects that have been approved by the General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor.

In addition to the state's $84 million investment, the projects will leverage $165 million in private support.

Point Park University will receive a $2.5 million RACP grant from Governor Rendell for the construction of a park at Wood Street and Boulevard of the Allies. The new facility will improve the quality of life for visitors and residents of the neighborhood by replacing a surface parking lot with greenery and water features. It will also be a key component of the university's academic village initiative.

Governor Rendell said Pennsylvania has strategically used its ability to borrow money for vital community projects like these. Wall Street debt-rating agencies, like Moody's Investors Services, consistently categorize the commonwealth's debt burden as low.

"Programs like RACP and investments like these have helped to keep Pennsylvania's construction industry going despite the economic downturn. These investments, and others like it that we have made across the state for the past 8 years, have helped to keep Pennsylvania's unemployment rate below the national average for 91 of the 94 past months," Governor Rendell said.

For more information about economic development initiatives in Pennsylvania, visit www.newpa.com or call 1-866-466-3972.

Media contact: Gary Tuma, 717-783-1116

Editor's Note:   A list of the projects Governor Rendell announced today, and the amount of funding each project received from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, is below.

Clinton Industrial Park, $8 million for Phase Two, the development of industrial and commercial sites at or surrounding the Greater Pittsburgh International Airport. The $20 million project is anticipated to create more than 2,000 permanent direct and indirect jobs, as well as 180 temporary construction jobs.

Westport Development/Findlay Industrial Park, $3 million for the project's second phase, which will extend Solar Drive in the Findlay Industrial Park, adding approximately 2,700 linear feet of roadway along with all utilities. The project will create 244 acres of development-ready land, which can be subdivided and sold to warehouse and distribution users ranging from 40,000 square feet to 1 million square feet. The $6.5 million project is expected to create 2,151 permanent jobs and 140 temporary construction jobs.

McKeesport Industrial Center, $5 million for Phase Two, the continued remediation and development of a 133-acre brownfield site along the Monongahela River in McKeesport. The project includes demolition, construction, renovation and infrastructure enhancements that will open 65 acres of the site. Future remediated space will focus on the continued growth of the flex park for business and industrial development.  The $10 million project is expected to create 265 new jobs and 120 construction jobs, and it will retain 841 existing jobs.

Tech One Business Park, Monroeville, $3 million to continue constructing Stroschein Road to serve as an additional entrance into Bechtel Corporation.  The project will alleviate traffic and safety issues for an adjacent residential community that currently has hundreds of cars from the business using a residential street to enter and exit the business park.  This will open about 100 acres of the adjoining vacant and underutilized business park for development.  The $12 million project is expected to create 200 permanent and 60 construction jobs, and will retain 549 existing positions.

Carrie Furnace Hot Metal Bridge, $5 million, for the remediation and rehabilitation of an existing hot metal bridge located in the Munhall and Rankin boroughs. The project will vehicular and pedestrian traffic and link the Carrie Furnace brownfield to State Route 837 and allow greater access to the area.  The $35 million project is expected to create more than 1,000 new jobs at the redevelopment site, as well as 150 temporary construction jobs.

McClaren Business Park, Findlay Township, $5 million, for the construction of a new road that will connect to McClaren Road near the interchange with I-376. Several shovel-ready sites will be opened and prepared for development. The $11 million project is expected to create 400 permanent jobs and 250 construction jobs.

Tech 21, Marshall Township, $3 million, for the preparation of pad-ready sites in the Tech 21 development as well as general improvements to its entrance of the development and existing wetlands. The $6 million project is expected to create 4,267 permanent jobs and 200 construction jobs.

City Center – Duquesne Redevelopment, $5 million, for the continued remediation and development of a 240-acre brownfield along the Monongahela River.  This phase of the $10 million project will open 75 new acres of development, create 410 permanent jobs and 165 construction jobs, and will retain 686 existing positions.

Point Park University Academic Village, $2.5 million, for the construction of an urban park at Wood Street and Boulevard of the Allies in what is now a surface parking lot.  The park will add green space, a water feature, and a premier restaurant opportunity to the neighborhood, and is a key component of key component of the university's Academic Village initiative.  The $7.5 million project is expected to create 310 construction jobs.

Robert Morris University School of Business Complex, Moon Township, $5 million, for an 18,000-square-foot facility that will include classroom space, the PNC Trading Center, the U.S. Steel Videoconferencing and Technology Resource Center, and the Allegheny Technologies Global Business Library. The $10.4 million project is expected to create 20 permanent jobs and 250 temporary construction jobs.

Robert Morris University Nursing Simulation Center, $5 million, for a 19,000-square-foot nursing simulation education, research and training facility. The center will contribute significantly to the research and training of health care professionals in southwestern Pennsylvania. The $11 million project is expected to create 13 permanent jobs and 250 temporary construction jobs.

2600 E. Carson Street, Pittsburgh, $5 million, for the acquisition, rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of a prominent historic seven-story structure in the South Side Flats neighborhood. The structure will be transformed into a mixed-use building that will contain approximately 87 one- and two-bedroom rental apartments plus 10,000 square feet of street-level retail space. The $27.8 million project is expected to create 55 permanent jobs and 125 construction jobs.

Residences at the Strip (Armstrong Cork II), $1.5 million, for the construction of a four-story building that will offer 90 market-rate residential rental units on Railroad Street (between 24th and 25th Streets) in Pittsburgh. The $18.34 million project is expected to create 15 permanent jobs and 125 construction jobs.

Downtown Preservation, $4 million, for the restoration and preservation projects on smaller-scale properties in the Fifth Forbes Corridor in downtown Pittsburgh.  The goal of this investment will be to leverage private investment in the many buildings that may have a first-floor tenant, but the upper floors are vacant or under-occupied and feature unimproved facades. The $8 million project is expected to create 250 permanent jobs and 100 temporary construction jobs, and will retain 10 existing positions.

Baum Square Parking Garage, East Liberty, $4.5 million, for the construction of a structured parking facility that will include 140-plus spaces and will support various mixed-use redevelopment efforts in East Liberty. The $10.5 million project is expected to create 25 permanent jobs and 100 construction jobs.

Doughboy Square – 34th and Butler, Lower Lawrenceville, $1 million, to anchor a critical gateway location and – through construction, infrastructure, site prep, and streetscape improvements along both sides of this corner lot development – help eliminate a disjointed segment of the district. The $6.1 million project is expected to create 200 permanent jobs and 70 construction jobs.

Strip District & Produce Terminal Redevelopment, $15 million, for the complete renovation of the outdated Produce Terminal and residential-compatible development on the land between the terminal and the Allegheny Riverfront, as well as parking, sidewalks, lighting, new utilities and other investments to support the development. The $30.9 million is expected to create 788 permanent jobs and 636 construction jobs.

Chatham University Eden Hall Campus EcoCenter, $3 million, to rehabilitate and renovate two existing barns on the campus and become anchors to a new academic and outreach/conference complex. The EcoCenter will include a multi-purpose assembly space for conferences, various student activities, and community outreach programs; a kitchen facility; and a series of flex spaces that will be used as classrooms, faculty offices, a bookstore and for student recreation. The $8.8 million project is expected to create 285 permanent jobs and 40 construction jobs, and will retain three existing positions.

Western PA Life Science Economic Growth Initiative, $500,000, for a life sciences campus on the south side of Pittsburgh at the River Park Commons Business Center. The facility will attract burgeoning life sciences companies. This phase of the project will include the conversion of the building for its initial occupants and the construction of new laboratory space. The $1 million project is expected to create 25 permanent jobs and 15 construction jobs, and will retain 24 existing positions.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor