W.Va. company to build plant in University Tech Park
ProLogic of Fairmont, W.Va., announced Thursday its plans to build a $2 million, 14,000-square-foot facility in the University Technology Park, next to Penn State Fayette. Jay Reddy, the company’s founder and chief executive officer, said ProLogic will employ over the next two years more than 35 employees with an average wage of $45,000 to $70,000.
The new building will house ProLogic’s tactical data link and 3-D visualization and modeling simulation software business.
ProLogic is an information technology provider and defense systems integrator.
Dan Gordon, ProLogic senior corporate developer, explained construction of about 7,000 square feet will be the first phase of the project.
The second phase will complete the project.
The facility will employ 50 to 60 people in about three years.
Reddy said the company will move into temporary offices on Main Street in downtown Uniontown.
The company will break ground for the new building next March or April, with plans to occupy it by next fall.
U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Johnstown) was instrumental in getting the company to locate in Fayette County, Reddy said.
“About six years ago, we attended a conference with Murtha in Johnstown, and he showed us what was available in this area. It’s taken a while for that to come around, but here we are.’
Murtha explained he showcases the region to major companies, especially those involved in defense work, and encourages them to locate facilities to the area.
“All the things I get credit for came about because we work so closely with the community,’ Murtha said.
“It used to be we would bring in the major companies but they would tell us they couldn’t do business locally. Either local bidders would come in too high or way to low on work they needed done.
“That’s all turned around now because we have developed a system where we have qualified bidders. It saves a lot of money for the country,’ he added.
Murtha has helped bring Advanced Acoustic Concepts, United Defense and SenSyTech into Fayette County, but he credited much of the work to the Fay-Penn Economic Development Council.
“Fay-Penn has been instrumental in building the infrastructure here to get these types of jobs into the county,’ he said.
ProLogic also cited Fay-Penn’s “pro-information technology business stance’ as a reason for locating in Fayette County.
“This is a perfect location where we can hire from an available, educated and skilled work force,’ Reddy said. “Accessibility and quality of life are excellent. The availability of the Keystone Opportunity Zone program is an important factor, and we are pleased with the proximity to business partners such as Advanced Acoustic Concepts, which will open an office in the technology park in June.’
ProLogic, founded in 1995, specializes in geospatial information systems (GIS), data visualization, knowledge management, system integration and business process engineering. The company has about 75 employees across five states and earned $15 million last year.
“This building is a long-term commitment to Fayette County. …We are putting our money where our mouth is, and we will create a partnership with Fay-Penn and Penn State University,’ Reddy said before signing the sales agreement to buy the 3-acre plot his company will use in the technology park.
He explained that while many of ProLogic’s current employees were former military personnel, the company plans to recruit interns from the local college as well as graduates. Reddy said Penn State Fayette’s recent announcement that it will offer a degree in nanotechnology fits well with his company’s mission. Nanotechnology is an expected future manufacturing technology that will make most products lighter, stronger, cleaner, less expensive and more precise
Krajovic said the park now has tenants representing about $40 million in capital construction projects.
“To say we are excited about this project is an understatement,’ said Leo Krantz, Fay-Penn chairman. “There will be a multiplier effect (meaning the ProLogic jobs will help create other jobs) that we are going to take advantage of to the Nth degree.
“Fay-Penn has been around now for about 11 years. We started with zero and now are a $26 (million) to $27 million corporation. We want to double that over the next 10 years.’