Working Together to Build Huntingdon County’s Future

By Brian E. Bassett

Economic development continues in Huntingdon County – and this development reveals itself in increased job growth as well as job retention.
Collaboration is vital to planning and realizing the many projects undertaken in the past year – and to those now on the planning table for 2007 and beyond.
Huntington County Business & Industry (HCBI) listed highlights of the past 12 months, which include:
• Developing infrastructure at Riverview Business Center to accommodate expansion of both Bonney Forge and IFC Services in Shirley Township
• Coordinating financing programs for the Mutual Benefit Group (MBG) growth in Huntingdon
• Ensuring progress of the multi-use trail development at Lake Raystown to support tourism
• Offering a Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ) workshop series to support new business growth
• Hosting an Entrepreneurial Video Library Premiere – a networking event for county and state business owners

HCBI, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, depends upon membership to help support economic development initiatives. Contrib-utions from area businesses of all sizes provide capital for daily operations, and serve as “match dollars” for state and federal grant programs.

HCBI prides itself on being the:
• Gateway to local, regional, state, and federal funding programs
• Coordinator of the Huntingdon County/Juniata College KIZ
• Lead-partner organization in tourism-based economic development projects
• Go-to resource for support with economic infrastructure projects
• Developer of Riverview Business Center

$1 Million Received for Real Estate Development
The Building of PA fund, part of the commonwealth’s aggressive economic stimulus program, approved HCBI’s application for $1 million in funding. HCBI was one of only nine recipients in the first round of funding. This money will be used to supply mezzanine capital for real-estate developers – particularly in small- to mid-sized Pennsylvania communities.

“Real-estate development is an essential component of any revitalization effort, so we are leveraging our resources to ensure the completion of more projects. This program represents another way in which we’re investing wisely to create new opportunities for our citizens, attract new businesses, and strengthen our tax base,” said Governor Rendell.

Ultimately, HCBI intends to use Building PA funds to provide partial financing for the development of multi-tenant office space, and to work with developers to renovate downtown multi-use space. These funds can be leveraged by developers to renovate buildings that combine business and residential space. Few economic development programs will fund revitalization of residential space.

Important Area Projects
Collaborative efforts that are currently helping to ensure Huntingdon County’s economic future include:
• Building trails in the Alleghenies, Raystown Lake
Huntingdon County commissioners, Huntingdon Count Visitors Bureau (HCVB), the Army Corps of Engineers and HCBI will construct an environmentally safe, 25-30 mile mountain-bike trail at Raystown Lake. Volunteers from Huntingdon County, the Laurel Highlands, State College and western Maryland are flagging and building portions of the trail. When completed, representatives from the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) claim that the Raystown Lake Mountain Bike Trail will be a biking destination for the eastern United States.

• Premiere of the Juniata College Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (JCEL) Video Library.
In October, 2006 entrepreneurs and business leaders from the region listened to speakers and enjoyed business networking at the Sill Business Incubator on 14th Street in Huntingdon. The Video Library can be found under JCEL on the KIZ Partners page at www.hcbi.com.

• Broad Top Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ), Broad top City and Carbon Township
The KOZ began as a government program in 1999, to help develop land in Pennsylvania. To promote this development, state and local taxes would be greatly reduced or eliminated. There are currently 12 KOZ regions in Pennsylvania.
“HCBI has partnered with Broad Top Development Services and Huntingdon County,” said Maureen Safko, grant administrator, “providing professional guidance to a team focused on marketing the Broad top Business Park KOZ site.”

• Riverview Business Center, Shirley Township
The development of Bonney Forge’s warehouse facility helps to anchor one of the county’s largest employers, guaranteeing the retention of more than 300 jobs. Closing two land sales will create at least 12 new jobs and will bring another 10 jobs into the business center. HCBI is working to develop Phase II of the center, which will extend access to additional lots and open up more than 100 additional acres for development.

• Brumbaugh Lumber, Shirleysburg
Low-interest financing, was secured with HCBI’s help through the Small Business First program. Administered by the Southern Alleghenies Planning & Development Commission, this program provides essential capital to businesses for land and building acquisition or development, machinery and equipment purchase, and working capital.

“HCBI provided us with the necessary contacts, including Southern Alleghenies and Saint Francis SBDC,” said Corey Brumbaugh. The funding enabled Brumbaugh Lumber LLC to expand their mill operations and create three additional jobs.
• 453 Truck Lane, Waterstreet

“ PA 453, as part of the continued effort to increase our ability to connect to the interstate system, provides much better access to I-99, as well as improving the safety of our roadways,” said Commissioner Roy Thomas. HCBI recognized the importance of infrastructure to local businesses, identified and encouraged the expansion of PA 453. When completed, this project will provide local businesses with a truck-climbing lane, and a four-lane connection to I-99.
HCBI is grateful for the collaboration by the many partners needed to complete these projects – and looks forward to continued success in 2007.

J.C. Blair Highlights
J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital reports a small profit for the second year in a row. It boasts a stable financial condition with a net worth of $24 million, and adequate cash reserves.
The hospital received $350,000 in funding from grants and 293.650 from the J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital Foundation in 2006.

Half the hospital care needed by Huntingdon County residents in 2006 was provided by J.C. Blair, and these services included:
• Admitting 3,393 patients
• Delivering 325 babies
• Performing 337,388 lab tests
• Conducting 49,708 radiology procedures
• Treating 14,377 emergency room patients
• Performing 4,044 surgical and endoscopic procedures
J.C. Blair employs 449 people and indirectly supports an additional 150 healthcare workers in Huntingdon County. ~PBC