Joe Sisley’s fingerprints are all above financial improvement in Westmoreland County.
“Joe has offered or leased just about every assets in Westmoreland County’s industrial park method,” stated Jason Rigone, executive director of the county’s Industrial Development Corp.
There are more than 170 corporations occupying 1,200 acres of land and — until the coronavirus pandemic — employing up to 10,000 staff in the county’s 18 industrial parks. Sisley, 66, of Hempfield, has been instrumental in it all. Soon after a 43-calendar year vocation as the advertising and marketing director of the county’s financial progress agency, Sisley is retiring at year’s end.
He was there when the county’s first industrial park was constructed in early 1980s and sealed the very last deal of his prolonged career this month with the sale of a 6.23 acre great deal in Westmoreland Small business & Study Park, in Washington Township and Upper Burrell, to WAB Associates LLC.
The firm signifies New Jersey-based Weiss-Aug Group, which ideas to construct a 60,000 sq. foot production facility with office place in the park. Weiss-Aug Group is a present tenant in the park with its JK Device procedure, which expanded previously this calendar year. Facts of the new production operation ended up not disclosed but county officials stated it is anticipated the company’s full employment at the park to improve around the future a few to five yrs to 75, up from the current workers of 25.
Westmoreland Organization & Analysis Park was built in 1992 and now serves as residence to 21 corporations that employ additional than 2,580 workers. It generates somewhere around $1.9 million in county and neighborhood taxes every 12 months, county officials said. Just one particular ton and about 3.6 acres at the park continue being unsold or leased.
In all, the county’s industrial park process generates about $7 million in assets tax earnings for the county.
Rigone explained the achievement of the county’s industrial park software and the in the vicinity of completion of the Westmoreland Small business and Investigate Park is owing in massive element to Sisley’s efforts.
“If you know men and women who perform in Westmoreland County and in the industrial parks, Joe’s probably had a hand in that,” Rigone said.
Sisley, a comfortable-spoken guy who usually appears to be like to prevent the spotlight, was honored by county commissioners previously this month for his lengthy vocation.
“It was kind of a bait-and-switch. I went there considering another person else was currently being identified. It was a serious shock,” Sisley stated.
Rigone called Sisley “the moral compass of our office,” and a gentleman whose perform ethic is unparalleled.
The most the latest sale caps a productive yr for the economic enhancement group and for Sisley. Far more than 52 acres at a few industrial parks were sold in 2021.
In February, the WCIDC marketed 19.92 acres at I-70 Industrial Park in South Huntington to Wyatt Inc., and in Oct finalized the sale of 25.9 acres at Commerce Crossing at Westmoreland to Al Neyer.
Watt Inc. has reported it programs to establish a 120,000 sq. foot facility and a 250,000 square foot distribution heart is envisioned to be created at the Commerce Crossing site in Sewickley.
In August, the company leased additional than 55,000 sq. foot at the Jeannette Industrial Park to new tenant FC Meyer Packaging.
Leases for area at South Greensburg Commons and the Mt. Enjoyable Glass Centre also were leased earlier this year and are expected to assistance 500 new and existing positions when they arrive at full potential.
The good results of the county’s industrial park program and its worth to Westmoreland’s economic growth endeavours is a point of delight for Sisley.
“It means I was part of a wonderful staff,” Sisley explained. “It usually means I did my position.”
Abundant Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Overview workers author. You can get hold of Abundant at 724-830-6293, [email protected] or through Twitter .