Grassroots efforts to build support for the completion of the $85 million Route 228 improvement project in Cranberry Township are essential. And pressure should be applied through political and commercial channels to see that the road improvements are fully funded.

The argument from state officials that there is no money to fill the estimated $20 million funding gap is just not credible.

Admittedly, there is real pressure on the state budget. And it's unfortunate that federal highway funds are in short supply just when Pennsylvania officials are trying to rehabilitate the state's many deteriorating bridges and roads.

But another $20 million can be found for the Route 228 project, if Gov.Ed Rendell and the General Assembly decide it is a priority.

After all, it was Rendell who "flexed"or redirected some $425 million in federal highway funds in 2004 to bail out the state's big public transit agencies, SEPTA in Philadelphia and PAT in Pittsburgh.

And in Harrisburg, state lawmakers are debating the expansion of secretive legislative leadership accounts to more than $300 million.

There is no doubt that funds are tight, with predictions of a $2 billion state deficit for 2009 floating around Harrisburg. But the Route 228 project should be seen as a part of the package designed to lure Westinghouse Electric's nuclear headquarters to Cranberry Township.

There was intense national competition to land Westinghouse, which sought expanded and upgraded space to accommodate a workforce predicted to grow rapidly to meet global demand. When the deal was announced, Westinghouse expected to bring about 3,000 jobs to Cranberry by 2010.

And since then, the company's growth prospects have continued to the point where the company is considering construction of a fourth building, which would house another 1,000 workers. But if the Route 228 improvements do not happen, the company says it might locate those jobs elsewhere.

That would be a shame, and it would reflect badly on the state and its leadership. Specifically, failure to put together a package to fund necessary improvements to Route 228 would be a black mark on Gov. Rendell's economic development record.

Landing Westinghouse was a coup of national proportions and something that gave the governor and other officials real boasting rights. The company could have gone anywhere and competition for the 3,500 jobs — with salaries averaging $80,000 — was no doubt intense.

Now that Cranberry Township and the region are set to begin seeing the benefits of the new corporate headquarters, it would raise legitimate questions about Pennsylvania if a relatively minor road project with a $20 million funding gap were to push Westinghouse's future growth to another state.

In addition to Westinghouse, the Route 228 stalemate is also threatening a massive retail development by Simon Property Group of Indianapolis. Simon is proposing a large development featuring retail, commercial and residential components just off the busy road. And Simon views the Route 228 improvements, including a dedicated exit off Interstate 79, to be crucial to its project.

Simon has reportedly committed money to the existing $65 million funding package, and the company is understandably frustrated after waiting more than six years to find the project in jeopardy.

The state says it expects local municipalities and business interests in the area to come up with missing $20 million. That would be helpful, but it's not worth risking the economic benefits at stake for the state to refuse to do more. State and local officials must work together to find a solution to get this project funded and under way.

It's not unreasonable to view state road construction aimed at commercial development as a form of "corporate welfare," as state Rep. Daryle Metcalfe, R-12th, has said. But it also is reasonable for these businesses to expect that the long-planned project would be funded and started by now.

Other states are probably prepared to make attractive offers.

Looking at the lack of progress on this road project, both Westinghouse and Simon Properties can't be faulted for questioning the wisdom of committing a major investment to Cranberry Township, to Butler County and to Pennsylvania.

Political and business leaders from the region must make a strong and united case to officials in Harrisburg. Despite tight budgets, there is still money to be found to fund this important road project.

Rendell must understand that if Simon pulls out and Westinghouse sends 1,000 good-paying jobs to another state, it will tarnish his job-creation record. He should join state and local officials to ensure that that doesn't happen.