Pennsylvania Governor Rendell: Job Applicant Screening Firm Will Create, Retain 270 Jobs at New World Headquarters in Bucks County

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A family of companies that screen job applicants before being hired will build a new "green" world headquarters in Warminster, Bucks County, creating more than 100 jobs over the next three years, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today.

Vertical Screen Inc. will construct a 49,600 square-foot headquarters facility on the site of the former Naval Air Warfare Center in Warminster. Once completed, the company will relocate its headquarters from a leased facility in Southampton, Bucks County. The project will create 104 new jobs within three years and retain 166 existing positions.

"When a company chooses to build its world headquarters in Pennsylvania and create more than 100 family-sustaining jobs, it's great news in any economy," said Governor Rendell. "As we work to recover from the recession, we must continue to invest in quality projects like this one to create jobs in Pennsylvania and leverage private-sector investment."

The building is the first new construction project in Bucks County designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification, the highest achievable level in the U.S. Green Building Council's sustainability rating system.

The Governor noted that his proposed budget invests money in proven job creation and economic development strategies that have helped keep Pennsylvania's unemployment rate lower than the national average. The proposed budget increases funding for other job creation programs such as opportunity grants, customized job training, infrastructure development, and infrastructure facilities and improvement grants.

"Despite this tough economy and a tight budget situation, we must strive to do whatever is within our means to lay the foundation for strong economic growth and job creation as the economy recovers," Governor Rendell added.

Vertical Screen is a family of applicant screening companies founded in 1989. Through its three wholly owned subsidiaries, Vertical Screen provides background investigations, fingerprinting, drug testing and occupational health screening and Department of Transportation compliance services to leading organizations worldwide.

"Keeping our headquarters in Bucks County demonstrates our commitment to our community, as does constructing a LEED Platinum-certified building. Constructing a green building will reap benefits for our company for many years to come in terms of energy savings, providing a better environment for our employees, enhancing our company's reputation in the marketplace and helping make green buildings more mainstream," said Vertical Screen CEO Tony D'Orazio.

The project was coordinated by the Governor's Action Team, economic development professionals who work directly with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in the state. Pennsylvania provided Vertical Screen with a $3.05 million funding offer that includes a $2.25 million loan from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority, and an $800,000 loan from the Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund.  

Since Governor Rendell took office in 2003, GAT has successfully completed 1,216 projects, resulting in commitments to create 129,886 new jobs and retain 304,341 existing positions. The commonwealth has offered more than $2.3 billion in assistance for these projects, which will leverage more than $16.8 billion in additional investment.

For more information on Vertical Screen, visit www.verticalscreen.com.

For more information on the Governor's Action Team and other Department of Community and Economic Development programs, visit www.NewPA.com or call 1-866-466-3972.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor