Shapiro announces investment in Hempfield site, touts proposed program expansion

As he looked over a former mining and industrial site in the Bovard section of Hempfield, Gov. Josh Shapiro saw much more than just a faded field.

“I see real possibility in this dirt, and in this old slab of concrete,” Shapiro said Thursday. “There is real promise in this land and in this dirt. There are jobs in this dirt. There’s opportunity in this dirt, and I think there’s real freedom in this dirt, as well, if we can make this happen.”

He appeared at the 217-acre property, owned by Adam Eidemiller Inc., to announce it will be one of the first recipients of funding through the state Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites (SITES) pilot program.

Matt Smith, chief growth officer of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, said the region has lost projects over the past 20 years because of a lack of available, pad-ready sites.

“That’s why I think it’s so critical that this administration has led on calling for that particular site investment again, in a way that’s not only robust but in a way that allows these projects to get up and out of the ground very, very quickly,” he said.

The Eidemiller property will be receiving $2.5 million toward developing an industrial park that could support up to a million square feet of building space. It is one of seven sites across the state to be funded through the program.

Shapiro touted the proposed expansion of SITES through this year’s budget, which would set aside $500 million in grants for site development statewide.

The Department of Community and Economic Development received more than 100 applications just for the pilot program, worth more than $235 million, showing there is interest and demand for site development in Pennsylvania, he said.

Investing further in site developments will help make Pennsylvania and Westmoreland County more competitive in attracting large companies to the region, Shapiro said.

“This is a critical component of what we need to accomplish from an economic development perspective,” he said. “Here in Pennsylvania, we can do big things again if we believe and we work together and if we invest. Now is the time to invest in Pennsylvania’s sites.”

Site development

The Eidemiller site originally was used by Keystone Coal & Coke Co. and once was home to the former Keystone Concrete Pipe manufacturing facility, until it was torn down in 2002.

The concept calls for the site to be developed to support 13 buildings designed for industrial, warehouse and distribution uses. Total project costs add up to $29.5 million. The Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp. is serving as agent and grant administrator for the SITES portion of the funding.

Lou Battistella, president of Adam Eidemiller Inc., described the SITES funding as a godsend.

“It will help with the many infrastructure hurdles that must be contended with in the design concept of heavy and light industrial tenant rental buildings,” Battistella said.

He foresees a 3-year timetable to get the pads ready for buildings. The company also is partnering with the Westmoreland Conservation District to participate in the mitigation and environmental cleanup of coal refuse on the property, Battistella said.

Douglas Weimer, chairman of the Hempfield board of supervisors, was encouraged by the program’s investment in the Bovard site.

“We hope that (Shapiro will) continue to keep his eyes on Westmoreland County and Hempfield Township and be able to bring the funds necessary for us to tear down the former state prison at SCI Greensburg, so we can put that property to better use and back onto the tax rolls,” he said.

The Eidemiller site and former prison are similar, he said: both need significant work before they can be used for new construction.