CLEARFIELD – More than 140 guests joined the Clearfield County Economic Development Corp. (CCEDC) for its annual luncheon Thursday at the Florian Banquet Center.
The featured presenter was Rob Swales, CCEDC chief executive officer. The CCEDC, he said, wanted to focus on its membership and tout its accomplishments of the past 12 months.
In 2014, Swales said the CCEDC tweaked its mission to create more growth and opportunity in Clearfield County. He said as of early November figures, the CCEDC officials had conducted 34 local site visits and reached 26 out-of-the-area businesses.
“We are really touting the assets of Clearfield County and central Pennsylvania as a whole,” he said. He said the CCEDC’s out-of-the-area outreach has primarily focused on energy-intense industries with the county having major electrical transmission lines in proximity to natural gas pipelines, railroad access, ample water reserves and low energy rates.
In regards to its Revolving Loan Fund activity (RLF), Swales said the CCEDC, in partnership with the county’s Industrial Development Authority (CCIDA) has funding available to assist businesses and industries with site improvements and upgrades. In 2014, he said it approved $260,000 in RLF proposals, which exceeded its goal of $200,000.
Swales said that over the past 14 years, there’s been a downgrade in funding opportunities to economic development entities for outreach to their members and to attract outside investors. According to 2013 impact figures, he said the CCEDC, through the Pennsylvania Economic Development Authority, sponsored $567,849 and $379,181 worth in state and local lending packages, respectively.
Also, he said that 2013 impact figures showed that the CCEDC, through PEDA grants, leveraged $4,211,363 on the state side for mainly water and sewer projects and $11,000 on the local side to the Clearfield Area School District to help with a three-dimensional printing system for architectural and engineering classes.
In 2013, Swales reported that the CCEDC assisted with the management of 16 projects within Clearfield County. These projects combined for a total cost of $60,861,971, created 238 jobs and retained 562 jobs, he said.
So far as its real estate development, he said that the CCEDC owned 152,000 square feet of space in 2014. Further, he said that the CCEDC has an 88 percent occupancy rate for 13 businesses, which has in turn housed 190 jobs.
According to Swales, the CCEDC owns 125 acres of land in Clearfield County and pays $80,000 in real estate taxes. Since 1999, he said that 10 out of 11 of the CCEDC’s sites were the result of it rescuing failing projects.
Swales pointed out that its 11th site, a 20,000 square foot, multi-tenant energy complex, was constructed three years ago due to the growth of the Marcellus Shale industry with unmet capacity. He said the CCEDC was aggressive in order to stay competitive with neighboring counties, and this complex now has 100 percent occupancy.
In addition to moving forward with its Howe’s Leather and Clearfield Riverfront Redevelopment projects, Swales said the CCEDC has an agreement with the Clearfield Foundation to promote the Clearfield Commerce Park. The site, he said, is 166 acres of commercial and industrial space with a prime location off of Interstate 80.
“In 2015, we have to continue to do what we’ve done in the past,” he said, adding the CCEDC must continue to be proactive and pursue land and building development, commercial lending, grant administration, project management and business outreach opportunities.
