May 14, 2024 - Bedford, PA
At a news conference in Bedford County, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis highlighted how investments through the PA SITES (Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites) pilot program will benefit rural communities to prepare sites for future development, attract new companies or allow employers to expand, creating more jobs and economic opportunity across the Commonwealth."The adage 'if you build it, they will come,' that's not just a quote from a baseball movie," said Davis. "It's what major corporations are looking for, and if you don't have shovel-ready sites, you're at a significant disadvantage. Because of the state budget we passed last year - with bipartisan support - we were able to launch a pilot program for site development. The Bedford County Development Association was one of seven recipients of that initial round of grants. That's a big win for a rural community like Bedford County. Every job created has downstream economic impacts - more families buying goods and services, spending money at small businesses and helping to revitalize the community as a whole."The Bedford County Development Association is receiving a $338,880 grant to develop a pad-ready site at the Bedford County Business Park II in Bedford Township. The grant funds will be used for excavation, removal of unsuitable soils, seeding and mulching and creation of a gravel access drive. These funds are part of the larger $10.6 million in new funding announced by the Governor last week to help sites across the Commonwealth become "shovel-ready."Speakers Include:Jeffrey Crist, Bedford County Development Association Board ChairLieutenant Governor Austin DavisMike Hanna, DCED Executive Deputy SecretaryState Senator Pat StefanoState Representative Jesse TopperKevin Harkleroad, Engineering Manager, Cell-ConAmanda Burroughs, General Manager, Omni Bedford Springs
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