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05-17-07
Greater Erie Industrial Development Corporation Receives Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence
GEIDC Recognized for Turning Environmental Challenge into Economic Opportunity
ERIE -- Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty today presented a Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence to the Greater Erie Industrial Development Corporation for its work in transforming a vacant industrial brownfield into a job creating business park that is strengthening the region’s economy and attracting new investments.
GEIDC demolished dilapidated buildings, removed contaminated soil, and cleaned up a dump at the former Cohen/A-1 Auto property. Today, the site is home to the Joyce A. Savocchio Business Park.
“This project serves as a model of how brownfield redevelopment can take blighted property and transform it into an economic development magnet,” said Secretary McGinty. “No longer an eyesore to the community, this property is now bringing new businesses and new jobs to the region.”
Last fall, the Joyce A. Savocchio Business Park secured its first tenant, Paragon Print Systems Inc. The company moved its headquarters and 20 employees to the business park, and expects to increase its workforce by at least 50 percent in the next five years.
GEIDC estimates that additional tenants will create or retain 240 jobs and generate more than $20 million in additional private investment for land and capital equipment.
Beginning in 1998, GEIDC developed partnerships with local, state and federal agencies and institutions to find creative ways to move the project forward. The Erie Housing Authority has a large housing project adjacent to the business park and owned a parcel of vacant land west of the Cohen/A-1 Auto parcel.
The Erie Housing Authority donated the vacant property to GEIDC to round out the business park acreage.
To help increase the local impact of the business park, the Housing Authority will provide cash incentives to companies that hire workers from within the neighborhood work force. When a company in the industrial park hires a resident from the local area, the firm will be eligible to receive a cash grant of $1,000 per employee hired for three years.
The commonwealth played an active role in the site’s redevelopment, investing more than $830,000 to support site assessment and remediation work, the removal of waste tires, and infrastructure development.
The Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence serves to highlight businesses and organizations that take on environmental problems in ways that build new businesses, enhance the bottom line, and encourage residents to invest in their communities.
Greater Erie Industrial Development Corporation was one of 12 winners of the 2007 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. Award recipients are honored for innovative projects that demonstrate environmental stewardship, while promoting economic development in Pennsylvania. From advances in clean energy to community revitalization, this year’s winners are making invaluable contributions to improving the health of Pennsylvania’s economy and natural resources.
Winners receive a commemorative plaque and outdoor flag to acknowledge their commitment to environmental quality. Each recipient is presented with these exclusive awards during individual press events at the winner’s location.
To view a more detailed summary of the 12 winning projects, visit the department’s Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us and click on “2007 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.” |
