Keystone Today

“A spark for investment in the entire region” … “Huge for us” … “Truly transformational for manufacturing” … “We’re back” … “This is a big deal”

HARRISBURG, PA – This week, Governor Josh Shapiro announced an $81 million investment to create a major, innovation-focused manufacturing operation in the New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park that will create 300 high-quality jobs in Westmoreland County.  

The new partnership between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Re:Build Manufacturing, and the Regional Industrial Development Corporation will create a new manufacturing hub to bring manufacturing and assembly projects in the energy, life sciences, robotics, electric mobility, satellite communications, and aerospace industries to northwestern Westmoreland County.

The collaboration between the Commonwealth, Re:Build Manufacturing, and RIDC is the latest economic development project under the Shapiro Administration that will expand innovation-focused manufacturing in Western Pennsylvania – signaling that Pennsylvania is ready to drive innovation on a global scale. 

Read what Pennsylvania leaders are saying about the $81 million investment in Pennsylvania’s manufacturing sector. 

Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward: From large global manufacturers with R&D facilities to small mom and pop shops, Westmoreland County is a competitive place to grow your business. More importantly, we are willing to work with you as Westmoreland’s transportation network, our ready skilled workforce, and cooperative working relationship between state and local officials makes Westmoreland County a great location for businesses to locate and expand.

Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman: This project is a perfect example of public and private partnership, as well as political partnership between elected officials. The investment will be a huge anchor of redevelopment in the cities of New Kensington, Arnold and the entire Kiski Valley. A focus on innovative and collaborative initiatives to support economic development benefits not only our region, but the entire commonwealth.

New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo: We are in the midst of a phenomenal revitalization in the city of New Kensington right now, and this just puts us over the top.

Arnold Mayor Joe Bia: That’s huge for us. We’re a small community. We’re one of the old steel aluminum communities in the area that lost jobs back in the 70s that’s been very depressed for quite a long time. It’s a big step for us.

Chairman and Co-Founder of Re:Build Manufacturing Jeff Wilke: We created Re:Build to help our nation secure a more resilient future by investing in high tech manufacturing. The new facility in New Kensington is a major milestone in this journey, helping to revitalize an area once central to American industry and bringing back much needed, sustainable jobs. A big thank you to Governor Shapiro and community leaders like Thomas Tull for helping make this project a reality.

RIDC President Donald F. Smith: Re:Build’s decision to locate in the New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park is a tremendous catalytic opportunity The presence of this high-quality, innovative force in the manufacturing sector, bringing hundreds of jobs to this community, will be a spark for investment in the entire region. The project wouldn’t be possible without the support of many community leaders and partners, and especially Governor Shapiro and Secretary Siger, who are setting a new tone for economic development in Harrisburg.  

Chief Growth Officer of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development Matt Smith: Re:Build is bringing to Westmoreland County and our entire region the vision and capacity that can accomplish something truly transformational for manufacturing and a new generation of manufacturers – not only here, but across the country. Manufacturing has deep roots in southwestern Pennsylvania. The products we made here were pivotal to the building of the modern world. This investment honors that legacy but puts a focus on building manufacturing’s future, which is happening now in the Pittsburgh region. 

Original source can be found here.