                  
|
DEMOGRAPHICS
|
Median
Household income:
|
$57,400 |
| Civilian
Labor Force: |
189,000 |
| Employed: |
178,700 |
| Unemployed: |
10,300 |
| Unemployement
rate: |
5.4% |
| Population,
2005 estimate: |
369,993 |
| Percent
change from previous
2005 census: |
-0.6% |
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TOP
EMPLOYERS
(latest
data as of Q1 2003):
|
1.
Sony Corporation of
America
2. Westmoreland County
3. United Parcel Service Inc.
4. Westmoreland Regional Hospital
5. Latrobe Area Hospital Inc. |
| Source: Dept.
of Labor & Industry,
Center for Workforce
Information and Analysis |
|
Square
miles: 1,025.5
County seat: Greensburg
Number of corporate
parks: 8
Transportation: Those
driving through Westmoreland
County can travel along
Interstates 70 and
76. Travelers can
also use
US Routes 66, 711 and
30, among others, to
cross through the county.
Those flying into the
county can use the
Arnold Palmer Regional
Airport.
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DECISION
MAKER
John
Skiavo
President, Westmoreland Economic Growth Connection |
 |
By
Harry Zimbler
John Skiavo was among the most
successful economic developers
in central Pennsylvania when
he headed up the Johnstown Area
Industries, better known as JARI.
Five years ago, he headed west
to serve the Westmoreland County
Economic Growth Connection. As
president of the organization,
Skiavo has seen great progress
in his new region.
“
The WC Growth Connection was
formed in January of 2000,” he
said. “It was the result
of a merger of three existing
organizations. It was decided
that the private sector needed
an economic development organization
that could work along with the
public sector groups.”
While the Westmoreland Industrial
Development Corporation handles
the Greenfield and Brownfield
initiatives in Westmoreland,
the Growth Connection assists
with those projects and a wide
variety of others.
Skiavo is excited by the fact
that all of the major economic
development organizations in
Westmoreland County will soon
be under one roof in a new building
in downtown Greensburg.
“
We will be creating a one-stop
shop,” he said. “From
planning commissions to economic
development, everything will
be available there. All the groups
will maintain their individual
integrity, and we will work closely
together.”
Over the past few years, under
Skiavo’s leadership, the
Growth Connection has contributed
to many major projects.
“The reopening of the Lenox Crystal
Glass facility was done through
a partnership with the Westmoreland
IDC,” he said. “It
is an 183,000-square-foot multi-tenant
facility geared to industrial
uses, warehousing, and manufacturing.”
The Growth Connection assisted
with the expansion of the Dick’s
Sporting Goods distribution center. “That
was a $7 million project,” noted
Skiavo. “We also helped
the company expand its corporate
headquarters in Pittsburgh.”
The expansion of a rolling mill
at the Timken/Latrobe Steel Company
added 70 jobs to an industry
that has been suffering setbacks
for years. “The project
gave the company a competitive
edge so that it could take advantage
of some market opportunities,” said
Skiavo.
Though he misses his many friends
and colleagues in Johnstown,
Skiavo is enjoying his new county. “Westmoreland
has many advantages,” he
began. “It is connected
to everywhere, with great roads
and an international airport
in Pittsburgh. That’s why
unemployment has been stable
in the county.”
Skiavo is still in touch with
many of the Cambria County leaders,
including U.S. Rep. John Murtha. “We
are establishing a defense procurement
center, similar to the one they
have in Cambria County,” he
said. ~PBC |
|
| PROFILE |
|
Stable & steady
With solid
infrastructure,
access to excellent
east-west and
north-south
highways, and
proximity to
Pittsburgh
and its international
airport, Westmoreland
County has
been able to
maintain solid,
steady employment
and growth
as the economy
in the region
evolved.
Over the past
18 months,
the various
economic development
groups in the
region have
worked to increase
job opportunities
through numerous
projects.
Soon, the entire
economic development
community will
be housed under
one roof in
downtown Greensburg.
Called Courthouse
Square Extension,
it has been
hailed as the
creation of
a “one-stop
shop” for
economic development
and planning
in Westmoreland
County.” It
is expected
to foster unique
partnerships
between public
and private
entities. The
formation of
the Westmoreland
Development
Council is
another result
of the project.
Near Courthouse
Square, Seton
Hill University
will build
a $19 million
arts center,
expected to
be completed
by 2009. John
Skiavo, president
of the Economic
Growth Connection,
believes these
additions will
help generate
even more investments
in the downtown
area.
Another project
that will have
a far-reaching
impact in Westmoreland
County growth
is the announcement
that $3 million
will be used
to improve
the county’s
two airports.
Most of the
funding is
going to CH
and D Enterprises
to build a
T-hangar taxiway
at the Arnold
Palmer Regional
Airport. The
grant will
also cover
the purchase
of snow removal
equipment and
the purchase
of an adjacent
lot for potential
future development.
Renovations
at the former
Lenox Crystal
glass-manufacturing
facility were
helped along
by a $300,000
grant from
the Pennsylvania
Department
of Community
and Economic
Development.
Another Lenox
facility was
refurbished
and is being
used.
The culmination
of a long-planned
highway project
may arrive
soon, according
to Skiavo.
The so-called
Laurel Valley
Connector,
will be a key
component in
the total Laurel
Valley Transportation
Improvement
Project. The
new roadway
would link
Route 119,
near the Sony
Technology
Center in East
Huntingdon,
with the Pennsylvania
Turnpike at
Route 981.
New interchanges
are planned
at both ends
of the road.
Skiavo explained
that the idea
for this road
was first proposed
in the 1960s.
It made sense
then and still
makes sense
today, he continued.
The traffic
on Route 30
has become
a problem that
must be addressed.
The expansion
of FS Elliott
Company’s
industrial
compressor
manufacturing
business received
a $2.8 million
boost. The
company will
purchase the
former Beacon
Car Quest building
in the Westmoreland
County Industrial
Park III. The
64,000-square-foot
building is
located on
6.7 acres.
The company,
which employs
115, will be
able to maintain
operations
in the United
States, rather
than moving
its production
offshore. This
is seen as
a major boost
for southwestern
Pennsylvania.
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©Copyright
2007 King Publishing, LLC
1305 West College Avenue • State College, PA 16801
814.867.2222 |
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