10-18-99
GOV. RIDGE DELIVERS ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION
TO KNOWLEDGE PARK AT DEDICATION
Gov. Tom Ridge today delivered $2 million in capital budget
redevelopment assistance funds for Phase II construction at Knowledge
Park, a 200-acre technology, research, and commercial park that is
expected to create and retain up to 3,000 jobs in northwestern
Pennsylvania. Knowledge Park is a joint venture of Penn State Erie and
the Greater Erie Industrial Development Corporation.
"Knowledge Park is exactly the kind of high-tech environment we want to
create in Pennsylvania," Gov. Ridge said during a dedication ceremony
at the new Knowledge Center. "Knowledge Park means being able to keep
our young people right here at home. And it means more good,
family-sustaining jobs for the people of Northwest Pennsylvania."
The vision for Knowledge Park is to create a home to university-related,
private, for-profit firms that now enjoy or have potential to achieve
high growth because of research and intensive knowledge-based
activities. Knowledge Park at Penn State Erie has been ranked as Erie
County's top economic-development priority by the Erie Community
Coalition.
Knowledge Park is currently home to Aalborg Industries, a high-tech
research and development firm, and GE Transportation Systems' e-commerce
business unit. Long-term plans call for development of 20 corporate
sites.
In August 1998, Gov. Ridge released $8.5 million for Phase I of
Knowledge Park. Combined with nearly $2.3 million in grants from the
Department of Community and Economic Development, the Ridge
Administration's commitment to Knowledge Park now stands at almost $12.8
million.
"This is an investment in Erie's future," Gov. Ridge said. "This
region is full of promise. We must continue to provide the resources
that will allow the talented men and women of this community to thrive
in the 21st century economy."
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Contact: Loretta Brandon
(814) 898-6063 (O)
(814) 864-9922 (H)
e-mail: lzb6@psu.edu