Greene officials get economic boost
WAYNESBURG – Greene County officials got another financial boost toward their burgeoning economic and development projects surrounding their new EverGreene Technology Park and the anchor tenant at the site, RJ Lee Group (RJLG). Tuesday, Waynesburg College announced it received a $400,000 grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation toward the construction of a new research and development center at the school that will work in conjunction with RJLG on economic development issues.
And last week, U.S. Rep. John Murtha announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released $240,560 in funding for the construction of the proposed economic development center at Waynesburg College.
The 15,000 square-foot, three-floor new building will be equipped with laboratory facilities by RJLG, a defense contractor, that will allow the company to begin to create commercial development as well as a forensics lab for use by college students.
“I’m pleased that we were able to help fund a project that promises not only to benefit one of Greene County’s newest businesses, but will also provide hands-on instruction for students and serve as a center that will support the progress we’re making in the long-term revitalization of the county’s economy,” Murtha said in a press release.
Waynesburg College President Tim Thyreen said he is anxious to begin operations at the new center, with more than $2 million secured for the center through public and private sources.
“We early anticipate moving forward with the advancement of our region,” Thyreen said.
The new center is just one part of the expansion of development into sectors of the local community, like higher education, as a result of RJLG moving into the region and the development of the new park.
Last October, Horizon Properties, one of the primary developers of the Southpointe complex along Interstate 79 in Washington County, signed a contract with Greene County Industrial Developments Inc. to work with the GCIDA to complete the massive 228-acre EverGreene project.
GCIDA Executive Director Don Chappel said Phase 1 of the park will showcase RJLG, the defense contractor through the U.S. Air Force that will relocate to the park through $4.25 million in federal funds, the EverGreene Technology Center, which will serve as the park’s nerve center, and an open office building.
Construction and site preparation for the buildings is well underway at the Franklin Township Park.
Horizon officials said the total site preparation will cost about $8.1 million for the park, with an estimated $3.4 million for Phase 1 site work.
More than 2.7 million yards of dirt must be moved for the 14-parsel park.
RJLG will be the first tenant at the park, and the government subsidy will be used to build a wear debris data repository center.
Some RJLG employees have already started working in the Waynesburg area as they prepare to move into the new facility sometime next year, with as many as 250 new expected from RJLG over the next few years.