Aug 19, 2008 By Patty Yauger 4 min read

SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE – Local, state and county officials were optimistic following a Monday economic summit hosted by U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Hollidaysburg. The two-hour closed-door session held at the South Connellsville Volunteer Fire Co. brought together Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and Economic Development Administration (EDA) representatives with Fayette County lawmakers, commissioners and local elected officials, along with Fay-Penn Economic Development Council to discuss opportunities for economic development.

Fayette County Commissioner Vincent Zapotosky said the discussion reiterated the need for the creation of businesses throughout the county, but also the need to retain those that have provided jobs for decades.

The meeting discussion, said Zapotosky, centered on the proposed the expansion of Crown, Cork and Seal in South Connellsville.

“With the commitment of Congressman Shuster and (state) Rep. Tim Mahoney and the commissioners’ delegation, we know we have to work collectively,” he said. “(Economic development) is about job creation, but also retention.

“It is going to take some work, but we have a plan and now we have to make that plan work.”

Neither Mahoney or Zapotosky would elaborate, but both indicated that there are discussions for a “small” portion of the neighboring Anchor Glass plant to be utilized by Crown, Cork and Seal and the creation of a dozen jobs.

“There might be a potential for that to happen,” said Mahoney. “It was a good meeting; it got us all together; now we’ll just have to wait to see what happens.”

Shuster said that the agencies and elected officials have the same goal for the region, but a face-to-face meeting was necessary to open the lines of communication.

Both ARC and EDA are federal agencies that partner with local communities to stimulate industrial and commercial growth in economically distressed areas.

“We had the program experts on these issues talking to the local folks,” said Shuster. “It was very productive.

“When you talk about economic development it takes a whole team; the mayor, commissioners, state government, federal government and the private sector to get these projects done.”

Federal programs, added Shuster, can be daunting and local meetings can clear away misconceptions and enable the parties to be “on the same page.”

“I learned things today too,” he said.

While the federal government cannot directly fund the local initiatives, Shuster said that Fay-Penn Economic Council is eligible to be the financial conduit for certain projects.

Shuster said in addition to Crown, Cork and Seal, that the officials also discussed the Fairchance Industrial Park where a roadway is in need of repair and the future of the Anchor Glass plant that has sat dormant for several years.

“A study needs to be done to determine how that building can be used,” said Shuster.

In June, Fay-Penn President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Krajovic said that there are discussions for the agency to purchase and renovate the 650,000-square-foot building.

Krajovic said Monday that the economic summit allowed for the parties to be fully aware of the need to have the building be productive.

“The federal involvement is limited, so we will be looking toward the state for assistance and we’re working with the governor’s action team,” he said. “We have asked the congressman to contact Harrisburg to express his concerns about the project.”

The ability to have federal, state, county and local representatives is “invaluable,” he added.

“Everyone now understands the issues and priorities; we’re now going to work to bring them to fruition,” he said.

South Connellsville Borough Mayor Pete Casini said the Anchor Glass closure continues to impact the yearly budget.

“Besides the closure, (Anchor Glass) also appealed its property tax assessment and it resulted in quite a reduction,” he said. “We had to reimburse them (the difference); thankfully, we were smart and set the entire amount aside.

“We haven’t had to cut services, but there are a lot of things that need done that we can’t do.”

Casini termed the meeting as “optimistic” for South Connellsville and the county.

“It was good for everyone,” he said.

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