People in Butler County and its environs are understandably excited about the approximately 4,000 jobs that Westinghouse Electric Co. will be bringing to the Cranberry Woods office park starting in 2009.

Most of those people already are employed by Westinghouse, but the company anticipates expanding its workforce by at least 1,100 during the next five years — meaning there will be attractive positions for which Butler County residents will be actively competing.

But the prospect for additional jobs won't end inside the walls of the new Westinghouse facilities. In fact, the prospect for many additional jobs in and around Cranberry will stem from the company's move there.

Diane Sheets, executive director of the Community Development Corporation of Butler County, acknowledged that in a telephone interview Friday morning.

She said a reasonable formula in regard to the influx of Westinghouse jobs would be that each Westinghouse position would translate into 1.5 new jobs in the service sector.

On that basis, 4,000 Westinghouse jobs would mean 6,000 other jobs in enterprises such as restaurants, hotels, banks and construction companies. Some of those work positions will be with new companies that will spring up in response to Westinghouse's arrival — or companies that will move or expand their operations here. Certainly, some businesses already here will find it necessary to enlarge the services that they currently are providing, or provide additional services.

From whatever the source, the jobs prospect in Cranberry and its vicinity looks bright for the long-term future. That means young people completing their education will have a strong incentive to remain in Western Pennsylvania, rather than to take their talents elsewhere.

While tax revenue to be lost due to Westinghouse's 15-year tax abatement will represent a significant "hit" for the Seneca Valley School District and other taxing entities, that loss will be offset at least in part by the business expansions, new businesses and ancillary job positions resulting from Westinghouse's arrival.

Residents of Butler and neighboring counties will be watching how the situation takes shape, but at this juncture it can be said confidently that Westinghouse is only the beginning of other big developments that lie ahead.