Oct 24, 2002 By Steve Ostrosky 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – Work at the EverGreene Technology Park could soon take a huge step forward now that the state has awarded a $700,000 grant to the Greene County Industrial Development Authority for park infrastructure. The grant, from the state Department of Community and Economic Development’s Infrastructure Development Program, will be used to provide sewage and water lines to the Franklin Township park.

The park is located on 200 acres near the State Correctional Institution at Greene and will be linked by fiber-optic cable to supercomputers in Pittsburgh and energy laboratories in West Virginia.

GCIDA officials have lobbied at the federal and state level for most of the year to obtain funding for infrastructure, according to executive director Don Chappel, who said the authority is working on another $500,000 grant to provide road access to the park.

“This is one of the major pieces of the puzzle we’ve been waiting for,” he said.

“We are putting plans together to immediately proceed with the water and sewage line extensions, and we hope to have them in within the next few months.”

Word of the funding came in a joint release Wednesday afternoon from state Rep. H. William DeWeese (D-Waynesburg) and state Sen. J. Barry Stout (D-Bentleyville). Chappel said both men made personal visits to DCED offices and worked with the authority in determining the park’s infrastructure needs.

“The EverGreene Technology Park is gearing up to become a world-class catalyst to job growth and economic revitalization in Greene County and beyond,” DeWeese said. “The timely release of state funds to assist the development authority in its efforts demonstrates the significant support of the commonwealth for this project, and for creating family-sustaining job opportunities for area residents.”

Stout said in the release that GCIDA worked to provide matching funds for the project, including land donation.

“Projects designed to stimulate economic growth in any region require strong partners who have bold ideas and a willingness to make it happen,” Stout said. “That is exactly what is happening here in Greene County, and I look forward to the park’s continued development.”

Westmoreland County Community College and RJLG Ventures already have committed to the park, with the college planning to lease 5,000 square feet from one building and RJLG between 20,000 and 30,000 square feet of space. EverGreene is projected to bring as many as 750 high-tech jobs within five years, according to GCIDA estimates based on early interest in the park.

Chappel said Delta Development Group was instrumental in seeing the application process work out to the benefit of the park, and he thanked the Greene County commissioners for their support and their work in lobbying the state for funding.

Once the road money comes in, all of the pieces that were required before construction could begin will be in place, Chappel said, but Wednesday’s announcement brings the idea of EverGreene closer to reality.

“It’s all coming together, and EverGreene is going to move forward,” he said.