Inside Corridor
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A Newsletter from the Altoona-Blair County Development Corp. Inside the Corridor september | 2009 Two New Manufacturers Decide on In this Issue: Blair County page 1 On July 10, 2009, Governor Edward Rendell was on > Two New Companies hand to announce that a flexible film manufacturer and for Blair County a secondary aluminum recycling operation will locate their new facilities in Blair County, bringing 185 jobs page 2 within the next three years. > PSU-Altoona Announces Diversapack, LLC, a manufacturer and printer of flex- New Railroad Degree ible films will locate in Tyrone, PA’s Jubelirer Business Park and Advanced Metals Processing, LLC, a sec- > Workshop: Funding Governor Ed Rendell welcoming Advanced Metal Processing and Diversapack to Blair County. Energy Efficiency ondary aluminum recycling business will be in the DeGol Industrial Center located in Hollidaysburg, PA. > Blair County Updates Combined, these projects represent total project costs of over $24 million; the creation of 185 new jobs; an page 3 estimated payroll impact of over $7 million and pro- > DSI & ITI Expansion jected benefits packages of over $1.9 million. Borough Council; PA Dept. of Environmental Protection; “We consider our collaborative efforts for economic > Gateway Enhancement Southern Alleghenies Planning & Development development here at ABCD Corp. an item of great pride Project Gains Support Commission. and we are excited to be part of these projects.” said page 4 Martin Marasco, President and CEO of ABCD Corp. In addition, the AMP project would not have been pos- “We are grateful to Diversapack and Advanced Metal sible without the support of the U.S. Department of > Sheetz Bros. Kitchen Processing for deciding on Blair County for their manu- Agriculture’s Rural Development office. They provided Wins NEDA’s Project of facturing operations, investment and creation of new their guarantee for the financing through the lead finan- the Year Award jobs for the entire I-99 Innovation Corridor Region.” cial institution of Reliance Bank along with three other local banks combining efforts. > American Recovery & The realization of these projects would not be pos- Reinvestment Act sible without the collaborative efforts of all parties Diversapack, headquartered in Atlanta, has nine manu- including efforts from federal, state, county and facturing locations in the United States. The company township agencies along with the business and provides film and packaging products and solutions financial institutions includ- for Fortune 500 companies in the food and beverage, “The people of ing; Governor Ed Rendell; health and beauty, consumer products, industrial and the great State of Congressman Bill Shuster; military markets, and is the only major minority supplier Pennsylvania have Senator John Eichelberger; to the flexible packaging industry. invited us to be a Kate Fairweather of the part of their future Diversapack’s project was coordinated through ABCD BUILDING FOR A BETTER TOMORROW Governor’s Action Team; Corp., and includes a financing package in excess and we thank them Representative Jerry Stern, 3900 Industrial Park Drive of $7.2 million. The package is comprised of funding for their vote of Representative Mike Fleck; through a federal program, the state of Pennsylvania, Altoona, PA 16602 confidence . we Blair County Commissioners; will not let you and local sources including ABCD Corp. and the (p) 814-944-6113 Snyder Township down.” Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Supervisors; Hollidaysburg www.abcdcorp.org Commission. continued on page 4 Inside the Corridor – September 2009 | ABCD Corp. (814) 944-6113 | www.abcdcorp.org Penn State Altoona Developing Railroad Engineering Degree Program The Norfolk Southern Foundation has given the Pennsylvania Railroad, Altoona is world- $100,000 to Penn State Altoona to assist in the famous for its long history as a leading site for Awards & Notes development of a four-year Rail and Transit steam and diesel locomotive repair and main- BUILDING FOR A BETTER TOMORROW Engineering (RTE) degree program. This tenance, and its landmark of rail engineering, Updates from Blair County. innovative Bachelor of Science program will the Horseshoe Curve. INRange Systems, Inc. the developer include existing Penn State “I want to congratulate and supplier of EMMA®, the first and only civil engineering courses, Norfolk Southern and coupled with new custom- FDA cleared device for Remote Medication Penn State University ized courses in rail business, Management, has been named as one of the for coming together to mechanical systems, track, “2009 Red Herring 100 North American create this fantastic bac- operations, communications, calaureate program in Award Winners,” honoring the year’s most and regulation. railroad engineering,” said promising private technology ventures. “On behalf of the entire Penn Congressman Bill Shuster, Reclamere, Inc, The Data Security State Altoona community, I Ranking Republican on Experts located in Tyrone, PA was awarded express heartfelt apprecia- Chancellor Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry (center) and State Representative the Subcommittee on Rick Geist (right) show off commemorative railroad ties bestowed upon Entrex PCI’s 4th Top Growth Company in tion to Norfolk Southern for them by Rudy Husband (left) of Norfolk Southern Railroads in the House of the vital role it is playing in Representatives. State Rep. North America for 2008. the creation of this exciting academic initiative,” Rick Geist added, “As a proponent of the Rail New Pig Corp., located in Tipton, said Dr. Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry, chancellor of and Transit Engineering degree program for PA and inventor of the first contained Penn State Altoona. the past ten years, this truly is a dream come true.” absorbent, has been named the officially “There are going to be opportunities in the rail licensed Heavy Duty Wipers and Sorbents industries that people haven’t seen,” Norfolk Another component of the Penn State RTE of NASCAR. spokesman Rudy Husband said. “The Penn program is the Altoona Railroader’s Memorial State Altoona effort is to fill operational talent Museum. The museum has close relationship Link Computer Corporation, located positions that will be available within the next with Norfolk Southern and has offered the in Bellwood, PA, will be hosting the 12th seven years.” Penn State program space in a new round- Annual Link-Up Technology Conference house planned for the museum property. Penn State Altoona is an ideal site for the on October 14, 2009. new program, given its geographic location Pending approval by Penn State University’s General Cable, who has a manufac- to Norfolk Southern’s primary locomotive faculty senate and administration, classes will maintenance facility and the railroad’s main begin at Penn State Altoona in the fall of 2010. turing facility in Altoona, PA, has been artery between the Chicago and New York Norfolk Southern will provide the program with named as a Fortune 500 company. markets. Founded as a rail center in 1849 by technical support and assistance. Funding Energy Efficiency Workshop For the second consecutive year, the Blair County Chamber WTAJ Your News Leader will serve as Master of Ceremonies. and the Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation will There will also be a panel discussion from energy providers collaborate on an Energy Summit. This year’s event will be and those intimately involved with energy audits. held on Wednesday, October 7th from 8:00 a.m. to 11:45 Once again, this Summit format allows for a small number a.m. at The Casino at Lakemont Park in Altoona. The of display tables to be made available to any business that program is geared to the aspect of energy audits, the fund- would like access to attendees. The cost to reserve a display ing available to conduct those audits as well as the grants table is $200 for Chamber members and $300 for non- and resources that can be accessed to help pay for the members. upgrades proposed. The cost to attend the Summit is $30 for Chamber members The title of the October 7th event is “Funding Energy and $40 for non-members. The cost includes a Breakfast Funding Energy Efficiency: A Summit for Businesses, Non-Profits, Efficiency Workshop buffet beginning at 7:15 a.m. To register, call The Chamber at Government Agencies and Institutions.” The agenda 943-8151 or register online at www.blairchamber.com. October 7, 2009 includes a variety speakers, among those confirmed 8:00 am - 11:45 am are: Deputy Secretary John Sider from the Pennsylvania The Casino at Department of Community & Economic Development; Lakemont Bernard Linn, Jr. from the US Department of Agriculture; $30/chamber members and Acting Deputy Secretary Denise Brinley from the PA $40/non-members Department of Environmental Protection. John Clay of 2 Inside the Corridor | www.abcdcorp.org Attendees at last years Energy Workshop. Country’s Largest Corrections Industry Software Company Expands in Altoona Digital Solutions and Inmate Telephone, Inc. (DSI/ITI) in coopera- tion with the Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation and the Altoona-Blair County Chamber of Commerce recently held their official Ribbon Cutting ceremony for their newly renovated facilities in the Commerce Park Building located at 5000 Sixth Avenue in Altoona. Interior Hallway Shot of New DSI/ITI Building DSI/ITI were both founded in 1984 and are now owned and operated by Mr. Anthony Bambocci and Mr. James Faith. The companies are dedi- from a small staff of less than 20 workers to a company with more 130 cated to the development of computer software applications that auto- people now employed at the firm. mate the corrections industry. They are the country’s largest provider According to company President Anthony Bambocci, “DSI and ITI had of software solutions for this industry, focusing on the distinct needs of grown to the point that we could no longer effectively meet all of our county jails, prisons, adult probation and customers’ needs due to facility limitations. Completion of the project “Successful parole and juvenile detention centers.