Corbett praises comeback effort
SPRINGFIELD TWP, Mercer County — When Gov. Tom Corbett has traveled to other countries, he has given Wendell August Forge items as gifts to foreign officials.
“I know that they have been appreciated,” Corbett said.
He spoke Tuesday at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the company's new, $8 million headquarters.
The 52,000-square-foot building on Route 208 has 40,000 square feet for manufacturing and distribution, 8,000 square feet for office space and 4,000 square feet for retail space.
It replaces the original building, which burned down March 6, 2010.
Corbett said the company truly “rose from the ashes.”
“I expected to see a Phoenix somewhere along the way,” Corbett said.
Company owner Will Knecht said he was amazed by how the building came together.
“It's been a miraculous ride,” Knecht said.
He said that people told the company that it would be out of business for nine months after the fire. However, it was up and running in five days.
He thanked the company's employees for “rolling up their sleeves” and working to get the new building.
“We didn't even have to ask. They just did,” Knecht said.
In January, the company closed on 12 acres about a half-mile west of the Grove City Premium Outlets. The company broke ground in March. The Wessex Corp. of West Middlesex designed and constructed the building. It opened for business on Saturday.
The project was helped by a $4 million grant from the state. Knecht said that Corbett and other officials understood the importance that the company has on the local economy.Because of this grant, Knecht said that the company plans to unofficially pay the state back.“Our duty is to grow this business through the roof,” he said.It has 110 employees.Knecht, who started at the company in 1989, said he could not imagine a facility like the new one at that time 24 years ago.Corbett said that companies like Wendell August are fueling economic recovery in the state, and he praised the company for being able to grow through such a challenging time.“You succeeded in moving forward,” Corbett said.Following speeches, a prayer and an audience-sung rendition of “God Bless America,” the ribbon in front of the store was cut and tours were offered.The company, which makes handcrafted heirloom-quality metal items, also has stores at the Grove City Premium Outlets, in Wilmington, N.C., and in Berlin, Ohio.
