ALLEGHENY TWP — A potential collaboration between four counties could save 600 jobs, update aging sewer and water plants and create a new development corridor in the county's northernmost reaches.

Commissioners from Butler, Armstrong, Clarion and Venango counties plus township supervisors and state Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-21st, attended a presentation Wednesday afternoon at the Emlenton Truck Plaza by Joe Saeler, executive director of the Butler County Community Development Corp.

Saeler explained that the Allegheny Valley Industrial Park on Pennwest Way, which houses eight businesses and employs about 600 people from all four counties, is in need of sewer and water upgrades.

Saeler and Mark Gordon, the county's chief of economic development and planning, said they called together the commissioners from all four counties because those jobs would be lost if the upgrades were not made and the industrial park closes.

“The economic impact to all of us is felt with respect to this employment opportunity here at the park,” Saeler said.

He said the industrial park needs $250,000 to get out of debt after two major funding sources dried up, as well as a $1 million immediate repair to the sewer system.

Saeler said a $2.5 million to $3 million upgrade to the water system and increase in the collection system at the sewer plant would allow sewer and water service to be extended to 200 nearby homes and camps as well as homes and businesses that would likely appear along the Route 80 corridor if that infrastructure were available.

The total $4 million to $5 million project, if pursued, would take six to eight years to complete, Saeler said.

A larger project, rather than simply repairing the current issues at the sewer and water systems, would financially sustain the industrial park, save the 600 jobs and attract development to the northern part of the county, Saeler said.

“The industrial park is in desperate need of some maintenance and upgrading,” Gordon said.

Gordon added that it is easier to seek grants and low-interest loans if multiple counties are collaborating.

Kevin Boozel, Butler County commissioner, said the county's northern municipalities want to see growth, but the limited infrastructure prevents developers from considering the area.

“Without everyone's involvement, we really have a risk of those 600 jobs,” Boozel said, “and residents will be on their own and we really don't want that to happen.”

Gordon added that he believes the state's Department of Environmental Protection would work with the multicounty group in seeing that all requirements are met.

In addition, Saeler said the sewer plant and roads in the park would become Allegheny Township's problem if the industrial park closed.

Several of the commissioners agreed that to take any next step, they would need to see more financial information from the Allegheny Clarion Valley Development Corp., which operates the industrial park.

The corporation's assets that could be leveraged for a loan or grant, expenses on all buildings and the taxes to be collected by all entities once the industrial park's deferment expires in 2022 are among the information requested by Clarion County Commissioner Ted Tharan.

Saeler said he could get that information together.

“I think as a team there is a solution here and as we collaborate, we'll be able to move forward,” Saeler said.

Venango County Commissioner Chip Abramovic said a developed Route 80 corridor could become the “gateway to the Allegheny National Forest” and greatly benefit all four counties.

All involved agreed to return to their home counties to consider the proposal.

“We all have to go back and figure out what we are willing to invest to maintain these jobs that are critically important to this region,” said Leslie Osche, Butler County commissioners chairwoman.

Hutchinson said he is also concerned about the jobs at the industrial park, which Saeler said range in annual pay from $45,000 to $50,000.

“I'm very encouraged to see cooperation and to see some good ideas to preserve lots of local jobs,” he said.