Gov. Corbett Tuesday announced a total of $3.6 million in funding to help redevelop brownfield sites in Chester, Lancaster and Mifflin counties supporting the development of 2,600 jobs.

Chester County Site

A $3.5 million Economic Growth Initiative grant was awarded to assist the redevelopment of the former National Liberty Corporate Campus in East Whiteland Township.

“This investment will transform a vacant corporate campus into prosperous center of commerce supporting 2,600 good paying jobs,” said Gov. Corbett. “When completed, this transformed campus will serve as model of responsible, sustainable and smart redevelopment.”

The project site will soon house the North American Headquarters of Saint-Gobain, the world's largest building materials company, as well as a global leader in the production of high-performance materials and glass containers.

The 65-acre campus now contains three buildings, totaling nearly 280,000 square feet.  The redevelopment will consist of a renovation of all aspects of the existing site and structures to bring the campus up to the highest standard of energy efficiency and sustainability including:

-- A state of the art curtain wall glass system that will enhance the energy efficiency by almost 20 percent.

-- The construction of a new four story main entry lobby and conference center that will link the two of the buildings into one.

-- The addition of a new loading dock and service entry to service the full service cafeteria that will feed the approximately 850-950 employees.

The project is sponsored by 20 Moores Road Associates and the Chester County Industrial Development Authority.

Lancaster County Site

The Department of Community and Economic Development awarded an Industrial Sites Reuse Program grant to EDC Finance Corporation for final phase of environmental remediation of the former Armstrong Flooring plant and Dillerville Rail Yard in the City of Lancaster to prepare the sites for new development by Franklin & Marshall College and Lancaster General Health.

“We are transforming abandoned or unusable sites into economic opportunities,” Gov. Corbett said. “By supporting the remediation of this site, we are helping two outstanding Lancaster employers expand operations, which will spur economic development and job creation for local residents.”

EDC Finance Corporation has been awarded a $938,090 ISRP grant for the assessment and remediation of approximately 27 acres from Dillerville Road east to Harrisburg Pike in Lancaster County.

The funding will support the final phase of the Lancaster Northwest Gateway project which has included several stages that have encompassed the demolition of the former Armstrong Flooring plan, the relocation of the main rail yard serving Lancaster County, extensive environmental cleanup of former manufacturing and rail yard lands to residential standards and the installation of new infrastructure to accommodate modern development.

With a project cost of more than $9 million this remediated site will be utilized by Franklin & Marshall College and Lancaster General Health to expand their presence in the City of Lancaster.

Mifflin County Site

The Department of Community and Economic Development awarded an Industrial Sites Reuse Program grant to SEDA-COG Housing Development Corporation for environmental remediation and assessment of the former Mann Edge Tool property in the Borough of Lewistown, Mifflin County, to develop additional affordable housing.

“We are transforming old and abandoned industrial sites into areas of opportunity for new development,” Gov. Corbett said. “By collaborating with local partners we are supporting remediation efforts and the construction of more affordable housing in Lewistown.”

SEDA-COG Housing Development Corporation (SCHDC) has been awarded a $210,171 ISRP grant to remediate a former Mann Edge Tool property in the Borough of Lewisburg, Mifflin County.

In 2013, SCHDC completed construction on a facility for elderly housing, Mann Edge Terrace, on a portion of the 3.08 acre subdivided site. SCHDC intends to develop a second an affording housing project for the elderly, Mann Edge II.

ISRP funds will be used for an updated Phase I Environmental Assessment and for the remediation of the site with a concrete floor slab and removal of contaminated materials.

NewsClip: DEP Orders Cleanup Of Former Jeannette Property To Resume

10/27/2014