Industrial park seeks to double worker figures
ALLEGHENY TWP — In its second decade, officials at the Allegheny-Clarion Industrial Park are looking to double the number of people who work there.
The industrial park off Route 38 in northern Butler County opened in 1995 after a similar site in Parker reached capacity.
"We needed additional space," said Walter Frint, executive director of the Allegheny-Clarion Valley Development Corp., which oversees the park. "It's doing really well. I don't know how many places in the rural area can post that many jobs. It's not an easy area to market."
Altogether, about 250 people are employed at the park, said Frint.
It opened in October 1995 with Universal Forest Products, which manufactures floor and ceiling stresses and ceiling units, as its first tenant.
Superior Absorbents, which makes water filter cartridges moved in 2000, followed by Pennwest Homes, a producer of modular homes in January 2005.
The most recent addition was the Western Pennsylvania Child Care juvenile detention center, which opened in September.
Although there are no specific leads for new tenants, Frint expects the park will continue to expand. The development corporation continues to work with businesses considering moving or expanding to the site.
The park has been designated a Keystone Opportunity Zone, which means companies that locate there receive real estate and sales tax abatement until 2011. The designation has helped to market the park, Frint said.Marketing efforts will also be aided this year as plans for extending water and sewer lines and the constructing of a new access road move forward. Those projects will be funded by a state grant of $809,732 presented by Gov. Ed Rendell last July.According to Frint, private investment in the park is almost $30 million so far. With 50 acres still available for development, he expects that figure to increase."I could see that easily doubled," he said.
