Special section looks to 21st century possibilities here

By Michael Roknick
Herald Business Editor

Economic seeds planted in the 20th century locally will be tended with care over the next few years with expectations they will bear fruit well into the 21st century.

This year The Herald presents its annual Outlook edition which has the theme: “The 21st Century: Imagine the Possibilities.’’

Last year was a year of preparation for future local development for a number of projects. The Broadway corridor in Wheatland, Farrell and Sharon is a major chunk of that development. Getting the state designation for a Keystone Opportunity Zone, the area is literally being paved for new industrial growth. Businesses setting up shop in a KOZ get tax breaks and a better shot a low-interest state loans and grants.

With the Shenango Valley Industrial Development Corp. taking the lead in developing much of the land, abandoned ramshackle industrial buildings were bulldozed into oblivion by the non-profit group to make way for new businesses. Even before the KOZ was formally approved Sharon Tube Co. opted to set its new plant at the Henry Evans Industrial Park which sits along Broadway.

Production at the plant has already started and deliveries to customers are expected in March. Another major coup for the area was when Winner International Corp. bought the former Westinghouse Electric Corp. plant in Sharon in December. Also located in the KOZ, the sprawling plant has more than 800,000 square feet of buildings under roof, including 200,000 square feet of offices. Placed on the federal Superfund list in 1990, the Environmental Protection Agency finally appears to be close to giving the final OK to a cleanup of the site.

Winner, owned by Sharon businessman Jim Winner, plans to develop the site for multi-tenant use. Springfield Township also has seized its share as hotels, restaurants and retailers continue to sprout around Prime Outlets at Grove City. The outlet shops drew more than 4.5 million visitors last year.

But there were sour notes last year. One included Cooper Energy Services Reciprocating Products announcing it was closing its Grove City plant. The 100-year-old plant produces engines and compressors for the gas and oil industries.

But overall the area is showing that manufacturing still can flex is muscles. Since 1993 Mercer County has generated $370 million in new industrial and manufacturing investment, according to Penn-Northwest, the county’s lead economic development agency. Companies that invested money in new building and equipment included Duferco Farrell Corp., International Timber and Veneer in Jackson Center along with Kenco Carpenter and Montgomery Truss of Grove City Last year 500,000 square feet of new industrial space was occupied, comprising 68 acres.

A troubling new problem has surfaced locally that hasn’t been seen in generations. The local unemployment rate is running just a hair over 4 percent which has lead to employment shortages even at entry level jobs.

Local retailers couldn’t find enough clerks to work over the Christmas holiday, reported the Mercer County Job Center.

What’s more, a survey conducted by Penn-Northwest of local businesses found 60 percent of them reported difficulties in finding qualified skilled workers.

However, compared to the early ’80s when plant after plant closed, plunging the economy into an abyss not seen since The Great Depression, worker shortages are seen by most as a blessing.

Back to TOP // Herald Local news // Local news headlines // Herald Home page

Questions/comments: online@sharon-herald.com
For info about advertising on our site or Web-site creation: advertising@sharon-herald.com

012700