Greene County Industrial Developments, Inc. (GCIDC) celebrated its 50th year of service in 2007 and looks to enhance its role significantly in 2008 in the economic development process in Greene County. The Industrial Development Corporation maintains an office in Central Plaza with Ralph Sommers Jr, Chairman of Community Bank, presiding as President over the 27 member Board of Directors while Donald Chappel serves as Executive Director and Susan Kieffer as Administrative Assistant.
GCIDC is further developing the business parks it owns at Paisley Industrial Park in Carmichaels and EverGreene Technology Park in Waynesburg. This past year saw construction on a second building in EverGreene get underway as well as new construction for Fresenius Dialysis in Paisley Park being completed. Additionally the access road in EverGreene was extended another 800 feet along with accompanying utility extensions. GCIDC just recently opened bids for expanding earth moving plans to commence in the spring.
Over the past years GCIDC has been involved with the development or financing of numerous projects throughout the county. Those projects include Burrell Leder, Long John Silvers, Econo Lodge, Kiwi Fence, Greenway Mfg., DataFold Forms, Poach's Shop & Save, Fairmont Supply, Hydra Services, Baker Mining, Kyowa, Equitable Gas Bldg., Lamar/Cyprus Coal office complex, T-Tygart Industries, Stahls' Hotronix, Universal Belting Resources, RM Mfg. Sales & Services Inc., EMS Southwest, Foundation Coal and Horizon Properties.
Within a 500-mile marketing radius, Greene County provides overnight access to a population of over 125 million people or roughly 60% of the U.S. population. With Interstate 79 cutting through the center of the county, I-70 to the north, I-68 to the south, rail access and Pittsburgh International Airport an hour away, products can easily be transported from just about anywhere in the county.
Paisley Park and EverGreene provide potential clients with different opportunities for locating their business interests to Greene County. The vast majority of businesses today seek a location adjacent to or near an interstate highway. Greene County is blessed to have four interstate interchanges, two readily available for development, for a company to call home.
"Economic development is not one person or one organization; it is a collective teamwork of organizations, the community, educational and financial institutions, utilities, along with local, state and federal government representatives working as partners toward a common goal. Greene County Industrial Developments, Inc. will continue to work toward this end in 2008 and beyond in creating and retaining jobs for a better quality of life. "It's not so much about where we are today, but about the choices we make for our future. Greene County Industrial Developments Inc. will continue to work, in collaboration with others, to set a course to enhance this county's economic development opportunities," Chappel stated.