A brief update - Keystone Regional Industrial Park
To establish the capacity to support and permit development of sites at the Keystone Regional Industrial Park, former efforts to legally define wetlands (and therefore define developmental sites) will be completed by the end of this month. This delineation of a total of 1,300 acres is thought to be the largest single jurisdictional wetland delineation ever completed in the Commonwealth.
The sewage facility currently serving industrial customers like PPG, JM Eagle, U.S. Army, Arro Forge and some 22 residential customers, has been virtually rebuilt during the last few years , and consistently operates within permitted limits. A few months ago, we experienced an unfortunate fire which required that we construct a new building for the facility. Insurance proceeds were sufficient to cover the cost of the reconstruction and that project is now completed.
Efforts are now underway to bring substantial "public" water resources to the park. This involves the restoration of a portion of the system originally constructed to serve the former Keystone Ordinance Works. While providing access to massive amounts of water, the infrastructure is old and varied and represents a unique restoration challenge. However, our goal is to complete the first phase of this important project by the year-end if possible.
As we complete the necessary predevelopment phases of planning and infrastructure development, interest by prospective developers and occupants is slowly gaining momentum. I firmly believe that investments in planning and critical services will likely result in new private sector capital investments at the Keystone Regional Industrial Park in the not to distance future
Until next time...
News and Developments . . .
With the help of the Penn State Cooperative Extension, a number of northwest Pennsylvania farmers have become involved in producing a promising biofuel crop. A few farms in Mercer County and Erie County, and about a dozen farms in Crawford County have planted Camelina, a small oilseed crop from the mustard family that is about 40% oil compared to 20% oil from soybean.
Representatives from Lake Erie Biofuels asked the Extension office if Camelina could be grown in our region. After investigating the possibility and finding favorable results, the Extension office aggressively pursued the opportunity, organizing a cooperative project from seed through processing with area farmers and businesses. To help get it off the ground, they purchased 1,000 pounds of seed which were distributed to interested farmers on a first-come-first-served basis in an amount enough for 15 acres each. In Crawford County there are currently approximately 300 acres planted with Camelina, about 230 throughout the county on private farms and 70 acres at the county farm. Other key players include Ernst Seeds in Meadville who is providing their expertise and equipment to handle the seed and to replenish seed stocks, and a crush plant in Union City with two presses ready for use and who is also making arrangements with various partners to handle other details such as transportation. The Lake Erie Biofuels plant in Erie, with the capacity to make 45 million gallons of biodiesel a year, would probably be able to use all the oil this area could supply.
Camelina, a Mediterranean native plant with small pale yellow flowers, attains heights of 1-3 feet with branch stems that become woody with maturity and seed pods the size and shape of a small pea. It is a low input crop (seeding rates are low, generally only a few pounds per acre) that can be planted early, no till planted, under different climate and soil conditions. With a short growing season, it leaves the possibility for a double crop season and crop rotation to replace nutrients to the soil. The no-till planting will also get the farmers additional carbon credits which can be sold to industry to offset their emission requirements.
When mature, the Camelina will be harvested with combines and the oil extracted with presses rather than chemical processes. The remaining meal after the oil is pressed out is high in omega-3 fatty acid, which means its nutritional value is high which would make it attractive as feed for livestock. Once the meal is approved for feeding purposes, it will be a value-added protein source for feeding from poultry to livestock. There is a fair amount of interest arising in the potential of using the meal in the pet food industry also.
This is the first year this crop has been grown in Crawford County. With the positive response and apparent success of the project to date, the Cooperative Extension hopes to make the program bigger in 2009, adding acres and growers. They would like to see it expand over the next couple years to the point where they can step away and let capitalism take over to the benefit of agriculture and industry alike.
A new company representing stone quarries recently started operations in Meadville. Representing both domestic and international stone quarries, the Natural Slate & Quartzite Co., LLC, owned by Michael McLaud, is a source for stones specified by architects, landscape architects and interior designers for use in multiple types of projects from patios to exterior panels for skyscrapers as well as building stones and roofing slates. They are able to serve customers both big and small for both business and residential projects. Their products include black slate from Eastern Pennsylvania, colored slates from Vermont, soapstone from Brazil and tiles from Spain and Norway.
Mr. McLaud previously was a sales representative for companies in similar fields before deciding to relocate and start his business in Meadville. With assistance from the Gannon University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), he developed a business plan which he used to secure a loan at a local bank. With five dealers and a nation-wide customer base, Mr. McLaud is beginning expansion into Canada. The company's web site is currently under construction, but they may be contacted by email or phone, 814-547-5740.
William Penn brought grapevines with him to the New World in the 1602. Today, grapes are grown in more than half of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. Pennsylvania produces nearly 82,000 tons of grapes and ranks fourth nationally in utilized grape production, valued at more than $20 million.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Center for Trade Development will be leading a trade delegation to Africa's largest mining industry trade exhibition, Electra Mining Africa 2008, scheduled for Johannesburg, September 8-12. Held every other year, Electra Mining Africa is a gateway into Africa for global investors looking for new business opportunities in the mining, construction, industrial and power generation industries.
The mining industry in Africa is experiencing major growth with new ventures being developed and existing operations being upgraded. In addition, with South Africa hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the country has embarked on major infrastructure projects that demand massive input of supplies and machinery.
Exhibition profiles include mining and related products, industrial, engineering and manufacturing, electrical engineering, materials handling, safety, health and environment, construction, and oil and gas related products. Participants will receive space within the Pennsylvania booth, pre-arranged one-on-one business appointments, in-country market research, services of the Commonwealth's representatives in South Africa, and follow-up assistance. Companies are responsible for all travel and business related expenses.
Participation fee is $850. Registration deadline is July 31, 2008. If you are interested in participating or would like further information, contact Dorte Heffernan at the Northwest Commission, or Larry Nelson at the Center for Trade Development, 717-346-2256. Further information may also be found on the event flyer and registration form or in the official brochure.
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Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County
764 Bessemer Street, Suite 101
Meadville PA 16335
814-333-2299
07/02/2008