Economic development council approves $150,000 in loans
Fay-Penn Economic Development Council approved loans totaling more than $150,000 that will retain and create new jobs at its quarterly board meeting Friday at the Holiday Inn. In her report on the agency’s revolving loan fund, Dana Kendrick, Fay-Penn economic development specialist, announced the loans are $75,000 to Denise Kooser for a day-care center at North Star Plaza LLC on Route 51 and $80,000 to Vince Crow and Marcy Guzik to assist with their acquisition of the Stop and Shop grocery store in Smithfield.
Kooser owns three day-care centers that are full to capacity, Kendrick said, adding Kooser wants to open the new center to serve working families and parents who are full-time students. The North Star Plaza has about 5,200-square feet that will be leased to current and prospective clients, in addition to the day-care facility, resulting in retaining eight employees and opening possibilities for new hires, Kendrick added.
She said Crow and Guzik plan to expand on potential business opportunities by growing the 25-plus-year-old market with improvements to the deli/hot foods section, adding a floral operation, introducing a line of $1 merchandise, developing local delivery within a 6-mile radius of the store and promoting locally grown produce during the summer. The store is also slated for a cosmetic facelift to the interior. Kendrick said this is the only grocery store in Smithfield and the project will retain 15 jobs and open the possibility of new positions.
Fay-Penn also approved a $400,000 increase to the Shanefelter Industries’ steel line of credit. The company fabricates bridges and supplies and employs about 60 people, Kendrick said.
Fay-Penn will work with its energy partners in administering a $4.1 million energy grant as part of a program to reduce energy consumption in the county and create jobs through a comprehensive energy-efficiency program.
The program would include grants and loans to make businesses and industries more energy efficient, training Penn State students to conduct energy assessments, educating consumers about assessing their energy consumption, identifying ways to use less energy and conducting energy efficiency assessments of homes, businesses and institutions.
The Fayette County commissioners applied for and received the grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the federal economic stimulus package, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Fay-Penn will work with partners, including West Penn Power’s Sustainable Energy Fund, the Penn State Cooperative Extension, Penn State University, Redevelopment Authority of Fayette County, Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/ Fayette, Workforce Improvement Board and the Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc. on the project.
Fay-Penn also announced two new tenants for the Big Six Plaza commercial property at the Fayette Business Park near Smithfield. ABC School House, a day-care facility, and Smokin’ Scissors, a full service hair salon, signed three-year leases. Barry Seneri, Fay-Penn economic development manager, said the plaza is now 75 percent occupied and there is space for two to three more tenants.
Mike Jordan, Fay-Penn economic development specialist, discussed Highlands Hospital and Cleveland Clinic’s join venture for a new autism evaluation and treatment center in Connellsville. Jordan said the hospital is one of three in the U.S. and the only hospital in the state to embrace the Cleveland Clinic program. The $1.6 million project will offer autism services to about 30 children initially and create about 30 staff positions, many of them professional, he added.
Joe Podolinski, Fayette/ Washington Keystone Innovation Zone coordinator, reviewed a $10,000 grant to Synaptic Systems Inc. of Southpointe, Washington County, for its VDi technology.
Podolinski said the grant will help Synaptic, an end-to-end information technology solution provider, complete the research and development phase of bringing its new VDi solution to market.
Ron Cole, Fay-Penn construction project coordinator, asked if Fay-Penn’s approved to spend $20,000 on a roof coating at its Gerome property in the Uniontown Industrial Park and gave an update on road and infrastructure improvements at the Fayette Business Park near Smithfield.
Fay-Penn and Catalyst Connections will sponsor a “Business Growth Seminar: Strategies and Resources for Manufacturers,” July 15 at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. Registration for the breakfast meeting will be at 7:30 a.m. The program will review business growth strategies and finding new customers. More information is available by calling Podolinski at 724-437-7913 or e-mailing him at joep@faypenn.org.