News conferences held by politicians are designed to generate buzz but one that is scheduled for Friday is having unintended consequences.

It all began earlier this week when Farrell Mayor Bill Morocco called news media throughout the area, including The Herald. He extended an invitation about the planned event, informing reporters that an attempt was being made to snare at least part of an unused $7 million state grant.

Winner Development LLC didn't meet terms for the grant, which was earmarked for developing the former Westinghouse Electric Corp. site in Sharon.

The funds are part of the state's Redevelopment Assistance Capital program, better known as the stadium funds because a large chunk of the money is going to build stadiums in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

Morocco said Wheatland Tube Co., Duferco Farrell Corp. and Premier Hydraulics Inc. were embarking on projects and wanted to seek the funds. Also, Penn-Northwest Development Corp., the county's lead economic development agency, was involved in the cause.

But after The Herald checked with Wheatland Tube and Duferco, neither company knew about the news conference, had no major expansion plans on the board and would only deal with Penn-Northwest when it came to seeking state funds.

Penn-Northwest, likewise, said it didn't know about the event and that projects previously chosen for the stadium funds are probably the top candidates for the money. If not, a new project would have to be inserted in a measure now working its way through the state Legislature.

After being told of the reaction, a contrite Morocco acknowledged there had been a major blunder.

"How do they use to say it in the old gangster movies? ... I wasn't given a clean bill of goods,'' Morocco said.

He explained that Kyle Klaric, owner of Premier Hydraulics in Farrell, had told him he did all the legwork and everything was set for the event. Klaric is seeking the seat for the state Senate's 50th-District and is the unopposed Democratic candidate for the primary.

"I'm a believing fellow,'' said Morocco, a fellow Democrat. "I didn't check it out like I should have.''

But he credited Klaric for trying to do good.

"He's trying to improve the area,'' Morocco said.

Klaric said he had talked with executives at the other two companies who said they were interested in going after state funds.

"I'm totally shocked on this,'' Klaric said. "It's just politics, that's all.''

Still, Klaric said he's going ahead with the news conference, saying his company will seek $1 million of the stadium funds because it has run out of space and needs a roomier location. He also said he was trying to lure a minority-owned business from Detroit to the area, which may also seek $1 million from the stadium fund coffers.

"I don't get caught up in all the politics, I just push forward,'' Klaric said. "If the money is available, let's use it to help the area.''