Nov 3, 2002 By Steve Ostrosky 4 min read

PERRY TWP. – Greene County officials celebrated another piece in the county’s economic development puzzle Friday at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Meadow Ridge Manor in the Meadow Ridge Business Park. Though it wasn’t the ideal weather day and some earth already has been turned, officials joined with the Regional Industrial Development Corporation of Southwestern Pennsylvania to commemorate the start of construction of the 20,000-square foot, multi-tenant building at the 146-acre park, located near Interstate 79.

RIDC President Frank Brooks Robinson said the groundbreaking was originally scheduled for June, but an archaeological dig delayed the construction schedule by a few months. He said crews hope to make as much progress as possible at the site before winter in the hopes that the building can be leased to small and growing companies next year.

The park already is home to Bell’s Wholesale Grocery Inc. and Morgantown Technical Services, and it has been designated as a Keystone Opportunity Zone, which allows companies locating there to receive exemptions from almost all state and local business tax, real estate and employee taxes for 10 years.

Greene County Industrial Development Authority board Chairman Dr. Charles Rembold said Meadow Ridge was one of the first GCIDA/RIDC partnerships, and Friday’s event fosters excitement for the growth that is anticipated at both Meadow Ridge and the EverGreene Technology Park in Franklin Township.

“Today is one of those days we as Greene County people look back on and honor,” he said. “Our groundbreakings will hopefully become more and more frequent as the weeks and months go by.”

Greene County Commission Chairman Dave Coder called Meadow Ridge Manor an integral piece of the county’s total economic development plan, and he said the building will make a difference when trying to attract businesses to locate in the county.

Commissioner Scott A. Blair said the county has benefited from the expertise of RIDC officials, and their support of the county’s development efforts has been important to the future of Meadow Ridge.

“This is just another tool in our economic toolbox and is the next step toward economic growth,” he said. “I look forward to the day when the park is full.”

Commissioner Farley Toothman, who serves as a voting member of the RIDC board, said he has often voted in favor of other projects in the region, and he said he was appreciative of the board’s positive vote to support Meadow Ridge Manor.

“These resources are not to be taken for granted by any of us,” he said.

State Sen. J. Barry Stout (D-Bentleyville), who represents all of Greene County, said the building will create new opportunity and will help the county economy change from its century-long reliance on the coal industry.

“This is the future of Greene County, what I see here today,” Stout said. “Thank you for investing in the future of this county.”

GCIDA Executive Director Don Chappel said no tenants officially have committed to move into the building upon completion, but he said he is still working with several prospective tenants on locating there.

“I can’t show someone a piece of ground, but now that people see a building going up, I may have better contact with some people,” he said.

According to a release distributed at the event, the building should be completed in the spring. The $1.4 million project is partially funded through a grant by the state budget office.

Richard Lawson Excavating Inc. of Finleyville is handling site work for the project, which is already under way, while the contractor is Davis & Sons General Contracting of Spraggs.

Guardian Construction Management Services Inc. of East Pittsburgh is providing construction management services, and Mackin Engineering is providing engineering oversight.

Site preparation is ongoing at other parcels in the park, which includes site grading and seeding, and should be completed later this year, the release said.