JARI lines up land for future expansion

BY SHAWN PIATEK
The Tribune-Democrat

May 29, 2007 11:00 pm

— Before the ceremonial groundbreaking Tuesday on the Phase II expansion of Johnstown Business Park, Linda Thomson announced even more growth is on the way.
Thomson, chief executive of Johnstown Area Regional Industries, said her organization has entered into an agreement to buy 65 acres to be developed as Phase III of the Richland Township park. She said the $850,000 deal should be closed within a month.
“We went out and scoured all kinds of acreage, and none was as good as the land that sits contiguous to what we already own,” Thomson said. “That land was up for sale, and we decided we should move on it right away because we didn’t want to risk losing it.”
Phase III will be slightly smaller than Phase II, where $4.9 million worth of infrastructure work – including the construction of Jim Edwards Drive – is expected to be completed in October. Phase II is more than 71 acres with nine commercial building lots; Phase III is expected to consist of seven lots.
Officials expect hundreds of jobs to come to the spec lots once businesses sign on and construct buildings.
Thomson expects it will take several years to arrange the funds necessary to extend roads and utilities into the next expansion.
However, JARI leaders stressed the need to ensure that property ready for construction is available when companies are looking to move in.
“To respond appropriately to companies seeking to establish an office in our region, we have to have the land available,” said Dan DeVos, JARI chairman. “Now ... we have that.”
Most of the funding for both expansions was procured through the government.
State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, and Rep. Ed Wojnaroski, D-Johnstown, were credited with securing state money; U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown, provided federal aid.
Murtha said he was pleased to see the region expanding, but he added that he was looking forward to returning for the next announcement.
“I’m looking forward to when we’re back here for the first business moving in,” he said. “That’s what really matters to me.”