Robbins and Gruitza successful for Stateline Industrial Park Funding

Harrisburg – State Senator Bob Robbins (R-50) and State Representative Mike Gruitza, (D-7), today announced that Penn-Northwest Development Corp. has been awarded a combination state grant and loan totaling nearly $1.5 million for improvements at the Stateline Industrial Park site in Hermitage, a funding amount the legislators said would finally make development at the site viable.

The vacant 82-acre property at State Line Road and Ohio Street was last used by Sharon Steel Corporation more than 20 years ago.

The funding is provided through the new Business in Our Sites program initiated by the Governor and approved by the General Assembly earlier this legislative session. The program is being administered by the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

The project will provide funding for acquisition and development including infrastructure improvements, installation of sanitary and storm sewer lines and water and electrical service, in addition to access roadway construction.

Robbins and Gruitza worked with the Rendell administration and the Commonwealth Financing Authority to discuss the financial requirements of the project with Mercer County development officials.

The Stateline Industrial Park site is prime property not far from Interstate 80 with great potential for commercial or industrial development. There have been inquiries by potential occupants in the past, but site control and the cost to bring the infrastructure up to what development would require has been a major obstacle.

"With the funding package awarded today," said Gruitza, "we can eliminate the infrastructure drawbacks, attract business development and get the property providing jobs and boosting the local economy."

Senator Robbins said, "It is important to acknowledge the hard work of all those in Mercer County who were involved in bringing this project to fruition, especially officials with the City of Farrell and the City of Hermitage, and the staff of Penn Northwest Development. This project can now move forward and provide another opportunity for economic development for Mercer County."

The approval of this project by the Commonwealth Financing Authority will now allow site improvements to begin in 2005.