Officials hopeful on Army project
An ongoing environmental impact study being undertaken in connection with the proposed construction of a U.S. Army Reserve training center in the Fayette Business Park has local officials optimistic the project will be awarded to the county. Barry Seneri, development manager with Fay-Penn Economic Development Council Inc., confirmed that the U.S. Army contractor – CH2M-Hill Inc., headquartered in Colorado – is gathering information at the proposed site and documentation from Fay-Penn for the study.
“We are very hopeful at this point,” said Seneri. “I can confirm that (the contractor) has been at the site and that we have sent them a lot of paperwork about the prior use of the property and the sale history.”
Seneri declined to speculate as to whether the added work indicates a renewed interest by the military in the property.
“It looks good,” he said.
After announcing the construction of the training center last year, the U.S. Army said it was considering a Westmoreland County property and two sites within the Fayette Business Park in Georges Township for the truck company with the Westmoreland property listed as the “preferred alternative” in a preliminary report issued in the spring.
Although Fayette County continued to be in consideration, commissioners believed Westmoreland County was being looked upon as a more favorable site and sought the help of a congressman to have the training center constructed in Fayette, said Fayette County Commissioners Chairman Vince Zapotosky.
“We didn’t want to fall through the cracks,” he said of enlisting the aid of U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Hollidaysburg, and calling for a public hearing to garner local support.
Zapotosky speculated that the outpouring of enthusiasm for project caught the attention of the decision-makers.
“I think the message that we wanted the training center built here was heard,” he said.
Zapotosky said Shuster has since interceded on the county’s behalf and credits him with persuading the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to further investigate the feasibility of having the center built at the Georges Township business park.
“Congressman Shuster put us in the position we are today,” said Zapotosky. “Like us, he believes the training center should be built in Fayette County.”
The $11.8 million project is to include the construction of a nearly 31,000-square-foot training building, a 4,800-square-foot maintenance building and a 900-square-foot storage site that would provide administrative, educational, assembly, library, learning center, vault, weapons simulator and physical fitness areas for the unit.
The U.S. Army Reserve expansion is part of the Army’s “Grow The Force” initiative began in 2007 with the intent to add a total of 65,000 to the active component, 8,200 to the National Guard and 1,000 to the Army Reserve by September 2013, according to the ArmyTimes website.
Currently, the only Fayette County Reserve unit is the 298th Transportation Company, located in Hiller.
Shuster, too, said that he shares the optimism of the local officials.
“The project is going through its process and I am monitoring its progress,” he said.
Zapotosky, meanwhile, said he believes the 10-acre, wooded local business park site is now the “preferred alternative,” replacing the Westmoreland County property.
“I’m pleased we are in this position,” he said.
An official announcement is not expected for several weeks.