Westinghouse Electric already has about 1,300 employees working in Cranberry Township and has finished the first of three headquarters buildings at the Cranberry Woods office park off Route 228. Two additional "wing" buildings are slated to be completed later this year.

CRANBERRY TWP — It's been just more than three years since the announcement came on March 4, 2007, that Westinghouse Electric was moving its headquarters here from Monroeville.

The move saved thousands of jobs in the Western Pennsylvania region and came with the promise of new positions.

The first headquarters building of 400,000 square feet is done. Two additional "wing" buildings are under construction and slated to be completed later this year.

The company also has leased two other office buildings in Cranberry Woods.

Construction on a fourth office building just behind the first three also is well under way.

Westinghouse also operates its Repair, Replacement and Automation Services Instrumentation and Control Production, Assembly and Test interim facility at Cranberry Business Park at 250 W. Kensinger Drive.

Westinghouse has about 12,000 employees globally with 42 percent of its work force in Western Pennsylvania.

The company operates other facilities in Blairsville, Waltz Mill in Westmoreland County and New Stanton.

Vaughn Gilbert, spokesman for Westinghouse, said the transition from its Monroeville facility to its new Cranberry Woods office park facility off Route 228 as been smooth.

About 1,300 employees already are at the Cranberry facility, Gilbert said.

Westinghouse President Aris Candris has projected its Cranberry work force would reach 5,000 in a few years.

The company's move to Butler County coincided with a renaissance of the nuclear power industry and the company's multiple contracts in China and the United States to build new power plants.

In 2007, it signed a $6.3 billion agreement with China to build four nuclear reactors.

Westinghouse also signed an agreement with India with the goal to develop nuclear power plants there.

Westinghouse supplied the world's first nuclear power plant in 1957 in Shippingport, Beaver County.Today, its technology is the basis for more than 40 percent of the world's operating nuclear plants, including 60 percent of those in the U.S.Jerry Andree, Cranberry manager, pointed out that when the Cranberry Woods office park, now the home of Westinghouse, was built, the developers were required to upgrade the roads leading into Cranberry Woods.They partnered with Cranberry Commons, which was under construction at the same time, to upgrade Route 228 to the current four lanes, with turning lanes, from Franklin Road to Interstate 79.This construction was done with the Pennsylvania Turnpike/Interstate 79 direct connection as well as the widening of the Route 228 bridge spanning I-79.That helped lay the groundwork to attract a company such as Westinghouse.John Skorupan, chairman of township supervisors, said although he did not think anyone had the idea the township would attract a company as large as Westinghouse, community leaders were confident they would attract companies that would employ the best and brightest workers in Western Pennsylvania and stop the "brain drain" that the region was suffering."When Westinghouse started its construction of its world headquarters, the nation was entering a serious downturn in the economy," Skorupan said."Westinghouse helped buffer our region from the negative effects of that national recession. Westinghouse and all of the companies locating here, both large and small, are having a very positive effect on our employment levels and property values."In less than a year from occupying the first building, the company has made major impacts and is working toward becoming a corporate member of the community through programs in the school districts and its commitment to the United Way of Butler County.Township officials aren't surprised that Westinghouse is becoming part of the fabric of the community as it has a long history of being civic minded."From the moment they approached the community about moving to Cranberry Township, they made a commitment to continue their civic involvement in their new home. They have followed through with all of those commitments," Skorupan said.Andree pointed out Westinghouse has partnered with the Seneca Valley School District to create the first of its kind engineering program in Seneca Valley with significant investment of financial and human resources.Westinghouse engineers also visit Mars High School for an engineering workshop. The engineers describe their jobs and demonstrate career opportunities.

Their employees are becoming involved with all aspects of our community's life, volunteering with the American Heart Association of Beaver-Butler counties and with the United Way of Butler County, he said.Employees have previously participated in the United Way's Pound for Pound Weight Loss Challenge.The challenge had 261 employees and their spouses sign up for the six-week program. For every pound lost, Westinghouse donated $1 to the United Way.Between the weight loss — 1,012 pounds — and money donated by employees, the United Way got $1,648.Skorupan said, "Westinghouse will have a long-term, positive impact on this entire region. I also understand the hard work that was required by this community to attract the kinds of companies we wanted to that would provide family sustaining jobs."I also understand what is required to continue to be attractive in retaining those world-class companies. We will never sit back and rest on our laurels. We owe it to our residents and to those companies to continue to make their investment in this community the best investment they ever made."Andree said, "That decision of Westinghouse to locate in Cranberry Township was a validation of over a decade of work by this community to implement a shared vision. It also validates the importance of planning and implementation and the willingness to accept that it will take years to realize the results of those efforts."In today's world where there is a need for immediate gratification, it is especially gratifying that we have elected officials who understand and support this approach."I am equally confident that when we reach 20 years out, the view will be an equally vibrant community for the exact same reasons Westinghouse came to Cranberry Township 20 years ago," Andree said.

<B>NAME:</B> Westinghouse Electric<B>ADDRESS:</B> 600 Cranberry Woods Drive, Cranberry Township, PA 16066<B>NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES:</B> Currently 1,300 employees at facility. Projected to have between 4,000 and 5,000 in next few years.<B>PRODUCT:</B> Vast history in electric energy, it currently provides fuel, services, technology, plant design and equipment for the commercial nuclear power industry.<B>QUOTE:</B> "Westinghouse helped buffer our region from the negative effects of that national recession."— John Skorupan, chairman Cranberry Township supervisors

Ryan Stout, an engineer for Westinghouse Electric, talks recently with students at Mars Middle School. As part its involvement with the community, Westinghouse engineers visit Mars schools for engineering workshops. The engineers describe their jobs and demonstrate career opportunities.

Gov. Ed Rendell touts the economic benefits of having Westinghouse Electric's world headquarters stay in Western Pennsylvania during a visit last year in Cranberry Township. Westinghouse President Aris Candris projects its Cranberry work force will reach 5,000 in a few years.