CEO Headlines - Indiana County Center for Economic Operations

Upcoming Events for 2016
Indiana mSA’s
Unemployment Rate At
5.5%
Over the year, the rate was up
three-tenths of a point. The
December seasonally adjusted
unemployment rate for Pennsylvania fell two-tenths to 4.8 percent, while the national rate was
unchanged at 5.0 percent.
Indiana County had the 50th
lowest unemployment rate
among Pennsylvania’s 67 counties in December. Unemployment rates and rankings of adjacent counties were: Jefferson
(5.6%, t-51st); Clearfield (6.0%,
59th); Cambria (5.8%, t-55th);
Westmoreland (4.8%, t-29th);
and Armstrong (6.1%, t-60th).
Unemployment rates across
Pennsylvania ranged from 3.3
percent in Chester County to
6.7 percent in Cameron County.

Indiana County Chamber of Commerce (For details call 724-465-2511) www.indianacountychamber.com
February 25, Chamber Business After Hours, Marion Center Bank (Leader’s Circle), 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
March 10, Chamber Business After Hours, Lentz Kitchen & Bath, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
March 24, Chamber Business After Hours, IUP University Museum, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
April 8, Chamber Business After Hours, RX Pro, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
April 21, Chamber Business After Hours, Henry Hall Office Supply, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
May 12, Chamber Business After Hours, Chevy Chase Community Center, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
May 14, Chamber Business After Hours, Blairsville Paddle & Picnic, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
June 16, Chamber Business After Hours, Bayada Nursing, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Blairsville Bits
Funding has been received for
two Boat Launches into the
Conemaugh River surrounding
the Borough of Blairsville.
These projects have energized a
younger sector of the local demographic because of its local
recreational benefits, joining the
Blairsville Riverfront Trail, a
segment of the Trails Allegheny
Trails system.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (For details refer to iup.edu/community/calendar)
February 18, PowerLink Think Tank, IUP/Eberly/S&T Board Room, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
March 8 - 14, Spring Break
May 7, Spring Commencement

Miscellaneous Community
February 27, Blairsville CDC Comedy Night, Chestnut Ridge Resort & Conference Center
March 3, Indiana Borough Bicentennial Kickoff Celebration, IUP KCAC, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
March 12, Downtown Indiana St. Patrick’s Day Parade, 11:00 a.m.
April 14, Indiana County Job Fair, S&T Arena, 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
April 20, Leader’s Circle Awards Event, IUP KCAC, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
May 28, Westsylvania Jazz & Blues Festival, Downtown Indiana
CEO Headlines Winter 2016
More than 400 people attended the
2015 Chamber Annual Luncheon,
making it a highly successful event.
The luncheon was held on December
4, in the Ed Fry Arena at the KCAC. A
networking reception began at 11 a.m.
followed by lunch being served at
noon. At the luncheon, Dennis Yablonsky, CEO of the Allegheny Conference, was the keynote speaker for
the event. A native of the Pittsburgh
region, Yablonsky is an accomplished
and experienced veteran of managing
and leading dynamic business growth
– as a private business leader, a nonprofit economic development professional and a high-ranking appointed
government official.
Connect With Us
Real Estate Update
Is Your Property Listed On
www.indianacountyceo.com?
801 Water Street
Indiana, PA 15701-1705
Phone 724-465-2662
www.indianacountyceo.com
Windy Ridge Business
&Technology Park
ABOUT THE CEO
The Indiana County Center for Economic
Operations (CEO) is a partnership organization dedicated
to promoting the County as a great place to learn, invest,
work, live and play. The CEO’s mission is to foster the
right environment for job creation and professional success
through business services, site selection, financing
assistance, and workforce development.
INDIANA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
INDIANA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
INDIANA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
INDIANA COUNTY TOURIST BUREAU
INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SUMMARY OF OFFERED SERVICES
Business and industrial parks
Site selection assistance
Tax incentives (KOEZ/KOIZ/KIZ)
Small business consulting
Visitor information
PAGE 4
Multi-tenant buildings
Small business incubator
Financial assistance
Education and training
Networking opportunities
Work for the Route 286 US 422 Interchange West project is expected to begin
in March, weather permitting. Work includes widening, signals, turn lanes and
other improvements on Route 286 from
Walmart to Louise Drive, the entrance to
the State Police Barracks and Creps
United Publications. This project will also
provide turning lanes and signals for
access to the developing Windy Ridge
Business & Technology Park.
Work in the park itself continues: paving,
seeding, light standard placement, electrical and fiber optic conduit is being finalized. Retention ponds have been excavated as well as roadway pavement arrows and side markers, in preparation for
actual final connection to Route 286.
As spring weather improves, more and
more infrastructure improvements will
become evident.
119 Business Park
A lease agreement has been
signed with Trinity Energy Services of Argyle, Texas for the
(2) 13-acre parcels in the 119
Business Park (Joseph Land
Development) on SR Route 119
South in Center Township
(Coral/Graceton). The site is
expected to be used as a hub of
operations with the placement
of office job site trailers, parking
for in excess of 300 employees,
vehicle and equipment and
materials will be on site. The
lease started on November 15
and will run through December
31, 2016. Trinity Energy Services is a Dallas/Fort Worth
based EPC Midstream oil and
gas company
For more real estate
information, please visit the CEO
website:
www.indianacountyceo.com
CEO Headlines
Indiana County Center for Economic Operations
Holiday Inn Express Considers A
New Location At The Windy Ridge
Business & Technology Park
Indiana County Tourist Bureau (For details call 724-463-7505) www.visitindianacountypa.org
March 18-20, Indiana Armstrong Builders Association Home Show, S&T Arena
March 25, 6th Annual Good Friday Breakfast, Indiana County YMCA, 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
April 9, Fool’s Run 10K & 5K Run, S&T Arena
April 25 -30, Indiana Arts Council Youth Arts Celebration
May 20 -21, May Mart Flower & Craft Festival, S&T Arena

Winter 2016
Business Update
INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
www.indianacountyceo.com
The Chamber luncheon theme was
innovation and technology. Yablonsky
provided business and economic
development insight plus explained
how innovation, technology and education has transformed Pittsburgh into
a mecca for new industries and corporations and how Indiana County can
benefit from this regional growth.
The Chamber also recognized former
Commissioner, Patty Evanko, for her
dedicated service to Indiana County
and the Chamber.
Hotel Announced For Windy Ridge
P1
New Commissioner Joins CEO Affiliate Team P1
Chamber Annual Membership Luncheon P1
Typical Hotel Exterior Photograph
Focus On Randall Industries CEO P2
IUP In Our Sights P2
Downtown Indiana & Tourism Spotlight P2
Unemployment Update P4
Calendar of Events P4
Real Estate Update P4
On January 12, the White Township Planning Commission
granted approval of a preliminary site plan to develop a Holiday Inn Express at the Windy Ridge Business & Technology
Park along SR 286 West, southwest of the US 422
inter-change. The proposed hotel property will occupy
Lot 1A, which is at the entrance to the Park. The threestory hotel will contain approximately 77 rooms. Part of
the plan also includes a potential restaurant/retail
location. The White Township Planning Commission also
approved the place-ment of a 45-foot sign adjacent to SR
286 to provide visibility from the US 422 interchange. The
engineer, Harshman CE Group LLC, suggested plans to
start construction on the hotel project this summer.
The Windy Ridge property is being developed by the Indiana
County Development Corporation as part of its mission
to stimulate economic development and job creation in
Indiana County. This past year, the ICDC has been
developing roads, utilities, and site grading for the Phase 2
area, which comprises about 63-acres total, with 6 padready sites rang-ing in size from 2.7 to 15.9 acres.
The Windy Ridge development will be a mixed use project,
with a blend of commercial, retail, offices, and light industrial
sites. The ICDC is currently engaged in discussions with
several other prospective developers. Phase I of the Windy
Ridge project was initiated in 2012, after the fire that destroyed the Creps United Publications building on West Philadelphia Street.
www.indianacountyceo.com
The ICDC fast-tracked a new home for the native Indiana
County business and helped them get back up and running
by late 2013.
The Chamber Annual Luncheon
is available for viewing on the
Chamber's website and YouTube
channel.
www.indianacountychamber.com
In this issue
The ICDC will commence engineering and permitting for
Phase 3 of the project later in 2016, with construction likely
to start in 2017. At full development, the Windy Ridge development will connect SR286 with Rustic Lodge Road, to the
south, and add 143 acres of business sites to the ICDC’s
inventory, with parcels ranging in size up to 20 acres.
A New Commissioner Joins The
CEO Affiliate Team
Sherene Hess was elected Indiana
County Commissioner in November, 2015 after a two decade long
career in conservation. Commissioner Hess’s accomplishments
include working with agricultural
producers in western PA to conserve soil and water, expansion
and relocation of the county recycling center, and bringing together
of hundreds of water quality education projects across the state. She
also has held appointments on
local and state advisory boards
over the years.
As a result of her professional assignments and her
work as president of the League of Women Voters for
fourteen years, Commissioner Hess understands the
complex issues facing Indiana County. Her main goals
for her term are to work with Commissioner Baker and
Commissioner Ruddock to deliver crucial human services that protect the most vulnerable and needy; to
provide for a tax assessment administration that is fair
and equitable; to expand capacity for drug and alcohol
and mental health services within the community; and to
promote business and job creation in the county.
Commissioner Hess earned a degree in environmental
resources management through the College of Agriculture at Penn State University. She and her late husband
Mark have four sons: two in college and two in high
school.
Commissioner Hess was quoted as saying, “Agriculture
plays an important role in the landscape, culture, and
economy of Indiana County. Much of the County has
prime agricultural land that supports productive farming,
which is one important component of the County’s
economic vitality.”
Randall Industries
Owner Believes In New
Beginnings
BEST USE OF VIDEO AWARD PRESENTED TO INDIANA GAZETTE
On January 12, Pittsburgh Tribune Review reporter, Torry N.
Parrish interviewed Greg Spencer, CEO of Randall Industries
in Cherry Tree, northern
Indiana County. Following is
an excerpt of that interview.
When Gregory Spencer bought
a chemical company in 2006,
he saw it as a chance to
hire people who needed a
second chance at success.
“I made some poor choices in
my life as well. And somebody
gave me an opportunity,” said
Spencer, who also wanted to
show that a black entrepreneur
could succeed at owning a
manufacturing business in the
Pittsburgh region.
Spencer, 67, of Oakland,
bought the assets of a troubled
company, Space Chemical Inc.
in Indiana County, from a bank.
The company, a manufacturer
of industrial cleaners, was in
business 23 years and had
counted the Department of
Defense among its customers
before Spencer purchased it.
To give the company a fresh
start, he changed the name to
Randall Industries.
Spencer wasn't deterred by the
fact that he was a former corporate executive who had never
owned a manufacturing company before, the Washington, Pa.,
native said.
“If you're a good leader and
a good businessman or
(businessperson) and you
make sure you understand
processes, and if you hire the
right people who have the right
skills, then you can be successful,” said Spencer.
He talked to the Trib about his
unusual path to business ownership.
The entire interview can be
viewed at: http://bit.ly/1ZjH3Ei.
PAGE 2
IUP CRIMINOLOGY
PROGRAM RANKED IN
TOP 10 FOR “BEST
ONLINE GRADUATE
CRIMINAL
JUSTICE PROGRAMS”
BY U.S. NEWS &
WORLD REPORT FOR
SECOND YEAR IN A
ROW
IUP CUTS RIBBON FOR
HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL
SCIENCES BUILDING
Indiana University of Pennsylvania formally cut the ribbon
for its new $30-million academic building on January 22,
which houses seven departments in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Located next to Stapleton Library and facing Grant Street,
the building houses the departments of English,
geogra-phy and regional planning, history, journalism
and public relations, philosophy, political science and
religious stud-ies. It also is home to centers, institutes,
and area studies including: the Frederick Douglass
Institute for Intercultural Research; Mid-Atlantic Addiction
Research and Training Institute; Center for Northern
Appalachian Studies; Asian Studies program; Latin
American Studies program; Lesbi-an, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender and Queer Studies pro-gram; Pan-African
Studies program; Sustainability Stud-ies program; and
Women’s and Gender Studies program.
All
undergraduate students will attend a class in this new
building, as will many master’s and doctoral-level
students.
IUP President Michael Driscoll noted during the ceremony that the new facility offers “a variety of spaces for a
variety of learning, the formal and the informal, and places where new discoveries can be made and shared.” “In
many ways, this new building symbolizes the very essence of IUP, a learning community where collaboration,
inspiration, knowledge and curiosity meet and make a
wonderful community,” Driscoll said.
The ceremony also included remarks from Timothy Moerland, IUP Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; Gealy Wallwork, a member of the IUP Council
of Trustees; state Rep. Dave Reed, a 2000 graduate of
IUP and a member of the IUP Alumni Association
Board of Directors, via video message; Yaw Asamoah,
Dean of the College of Humanities and Social
Sciences;
Charles
Cashdollar,
IUP
History
Professor Emeritus;
Gian Pagnucci, Chair of the
Department of English; and Ashley Niccolai, a 2015 IUP
graduate and current graduate stu-dent in the sociology
department.
Groundbreaking for the new building took place Nov.
1, 2013. The architect for the building is Cannon Design
of Pittsburgh. Departments moved into the new
building from McElhaney, Keith, Leonard, Davis and
Sutton Halls.
IUP’s Master of Arts in criminology’s online program has
been selected among the top 10 online graduate criminal
justice programs by U.S. News & World Report for the
second year in a row.
The selection is based on factors including admissions
selectivity, faculty credentials and academic and career
support services offered to students.
In its evaluation, editors recognized that all of the IUP
online graduate-level classes in this program are recorded
and archived, “so that students can access lecture material at their convenience.” Editors also noted that the program draws a large number of working professionals to the
program.
“It is once again an honor for the department and faculty to
be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the
top 10 programs in the country”, Dr. Robert Mutchnick,
chair of the IUP department of criminology and criminal
justice, said.
“The credit for the continued success of the program goes
to our dedicated faculty and especially to Dr. Jennifer
Gossett, online MA coordinator. Dr. Gossett has revamped
the delivery of the program without sacrificing quality. She
has also worked very hard to market the program, attracting professionals who want to continue their education.”
IUP’s program was recognized for its high new-student
retention rate, ranging from 100 percent to 98 percent from
academic year 2010-11 to 2013-14. IUP was in the top
quartile in the student engagement category and at the top
of the third quartile for faculty credentials and training.
Seven full-time faculty members teach the online courses.
A new delivery system for the online program began in fall
2015, allowing students in the program to complete requirements for the master’s degree in one year. Program
participants take courses in a cohort of 25 students.
“Faculty in the department have always been responsive
and innovative in meeting student needs,” Dr. Mark E.
Correia, dean of IUP’s College of Health and Human Services, said. “This recognition exemplifies their continued
efforts in this area and their ability to develop high-quality
programs that attracts students who will be integral in
leading efforts to solve complex social problems.”
Graduates of the program work in a variety of areas, including at the federal, state and local levels of law enforcement and corrections. Other graduates work for federal
and county probation and parole offices and in juvenile
justice.
The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation made the award to the Indiana Gazette in
September, 2015 for their production of the “Think Indiana County” marketing promotion video as
hosted on the CEO website. This special award recognized only one entry across all circulation divisions. The video had to demonstrate a compelling use of technology, and had to best use video either
for a single advertisement or as part of an ad campaign. Judges considered creativity, innovation and
impact as well as how effectively the content reflects the value and purpose of the advertised product.
Indiana County Chamber of Commerce president, Jim Struzzi, said “The video was created to market
Indiana County for economic development purposes. Though specifically made to showcase the county for the Pittsburgh
Business Times Corridors of Opportunity luncheon event in July 2014, the video is also used on various websites through
the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce and the Indiana County Center for Economic Operations plus other multi-media
outlets. The video was shown on the jumbo-tron screen at the Kovalchick Complex to more than 220 people who attended
the luncheon. Following the Corridors event, the Chamber and the Indiana County Center for Economic Operations received
numerous inquiries about business opportunities and locations locally. In addition, the Chamber continues to share the video
with potential developers in a direct marketing effort to attract them to Indiana County.”
TOURISM SPOTLIGHT
For a comprehensive list of events happening in
Indiana County visit the ICTB website at
www.visitindianacountypa.org or call 724-463-7505
A crowd of over 350 chased the winter blues out of Downtown Indiana thanks to the 2016 Fire & Ice Festival on January 9th!
Indiana County Tourist Bureau was one of three main sponsors of the event featuring breakfast at Gatti Pharmacy, live ice
carving demonstrations, free admission to a Jimmy Stewart movie at the Museum, ice hockey shooting competitions, and
the famous chili cook-off at H.B. Culpeppers. Main supporters of the event included Indiana Regional Medical Center,
Downtown Indiana, Indiana County Tourist Bureau, First Commonwealth Bank, S&T Bank, and Michael B Shoes. The Fire &
Ice Committee are already preparing for an even bigger, family fun event in 2017.
Souvenir collectors will love the new 2016 ICTB
motes annual events in Indiana County and
area communities. This year’s free calendar
tographer, Anthony Frazier. Stop in their Indicopy!
Calendar! The scrapbook themed design proICTB members who enhance the quality of life in
includes photography from a talented local phoana Mall office or call 724-463-7505 for your free
ICTB Group Tour/Conference Associate Maria Jack kicked off the travel show season by attending the American Bus Association (ABA) show in Louisville, Kentucky recently. Attendance this year reached 3,500, and Jack took full advantage by
marketing our region to over 62 tour operators during the 7-minute appointment based session and numerous networking
events. She once again noted the notoriety Indiana holds for its Jimmy Stewart Museum and IAWL Festival, which opens
the door to showcase other wonderful venues and attractions in our county.
In November 2015, Try Indiana County launched its campaign with a county-wide event at the
Indiana Mall with a goal to not only educate the public on the importance of trying local first but
also to showcase what all Indiana County has to offer. With large support already from retailers
throughout the area, the Steering Committee of Try I.C. wants to stress that this top-of-the-mind
awareness campaign is more than just shopping local; it's about trying local. Often, individuals
leave the area before even realizing what services are offered right down the street. Whether it's
purchasing tires from a local mechanic or hiking around Yellow Creek, Indiana County has the
shopping, the services, the dining and the recreational activity that is perfect for a wide demographic. As this is the first year for this specific campaign, the Steering Committee is confident
that with continuing community support, this cause will continue to grow and improve the area.
Studies show that small town America is on the decline, but Try Indiana County is hopeful of preventing that from happening here. Learn more about how you can help and show your support by following this mission online:
http://www.tryindianacounty.com https://www.facebook.com/TryIndianaCounty/?fref=ts
IUP HOTEL UPDATE
The Hilton Garden Inn currently under construction on the campus of IUP is moving ahead on schedule. The hotel still
hopes to be welcoming guests in the late summer of this year.
The construction team is generally pleased with their progress having the roof on, a great deal of the exterior brick
completed, and actively working on interior finishes.
Hotel staff are pleased to be receiving inquiries from interested groups for future reservations and, also, potential
employees. They are easily reached at www.iuphgi.com .
Downtown Indiana Update
On Friday evening January 22,
winter storm Jonas paid a visit to
Philadelphia Street. While in town,
it’s not certain if Jonas made any
purchases from the various retailers
that call "Philly" home, or had a
chance stop for a bite at any local
eateries. Perhaps he caught a
sampling of live music at one of
Indiana's many restaurants and
taverns or paused to take a selfie
with Jimmy Stewart in front of the
Indiana County courthouse. Who
knows?
What is certain is this: when he
departed Saturday evening, he left
approximately 7 inches of snow
which covered anything and everything, including Philadelphia Street
and its adjoining sidewalks.
Downtown Indiana's snow removal
crew and crews from the Indiana
Borough Public Works Department
wasted little time attempting to
remove what Jonas had left behind.
In the 48 hours from Saturday night
through Monday night, the Downtown Indiana crew, led by Indiana's
Greener Solutions LLC, transported
approximately 130 truckloads of
snow away from Philadelphia Street
and the adjoining sidewalks to eight
predetermined locations around
town.
Then, starting Tuesday morning at
4:00 a.m., Indiana Borough’s
crews, led by Public Works Director
Dave Fairman, began removing
the newly deposited snow piles
from the stockpile locations around
town that were designated for use
by the Downtown Indiana crews.
Snow removal is an example of
Downtown Indiana's commitment to
the Business Improvement District
(BID) agreement, maintaining a
walkable and well-maintained business corridor and adjacent streets.
PAGE 3
Upcoming Events for 2016
Indiana mSA’s
Unemployment Rate At
5.5%
Over the year, the rate was up
three-tenths of a point. The
December seasonally adjusted
unemployment rate for Pennsylvania fell two-tenths to 4.8 percent, while the national rate was
unchanged at 5.0 percent.
Indiana County had the 50th
lowest unemployment rate
among Pennsylvania’s 67 counties in December. Unemployment rates and rankings of adjacent counties were: Jefferson
(5.6%, t-51st); Clearfield (6.0%,
59th); Cambria (5.8%, t-55th);
Westmoreland (4.8%, t-29th);
and Armstrong (6.1%, t-60th).
Unemployment rates across
Pennsylvania ranged from 3.3
percent in Chester County to
6.7 percent in Cameron County.

Indiana County Chamber of Commerce (For details call 724-465-2511) www.indianacountychamber.com
February 25, Chamber Business After Hours, Marion Center Bank (Leader’s Circle), 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
March 10, Chamber Business After Hours, Lentz Kitchen & Bath, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
March 24, Chamber Business After Hours, IUP University Museum, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
April 8, Chamber Business After Hours, Advance Care Pharmacy, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
April 21, Chamber Business After Hours, Henry Hall Office Supply, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
May 12, Chamber Business After Hours, Chevy Chase Community Center, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
May 14, Chamber Business After Hours, Blairsville Paddle & Picnic, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
June 16, Chamber Business After Hours, Bayada Nursing, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Blairsville Bits
Funding has been received for
two Boat Launches into the
Conemaugh River surrounding
the Borough of Blairsville.
These projects have energized a
younger sector of the local demographic because of its local
recreational benefits, joining the
Blairsville Riverfront Trail, a
segment of the Trails Allegheny
Trails system.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (For details refer to iup.edu/community/calendar)
February 18, PowerLink Think Tank, IUP/Eberly/S&T Board Room, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
March 8 - 14, Spring Break
May 7, Spring Commencement

Miscellaneous Community
February 27, Blairsville CDC Comedy Night, Chestnut Ridge Resort & Conference Center
March 3, Indiana Borough Bicentennial Kickoff Celebration, IUP KCAC, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
March 12, Downtown Indiana St. Patrick’s Day Parade, 11:00 a.m.
April 14, Indiana County Job Fair, S&T Arena, 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
April 20, Leader’s Circle Awards Event, IUP KCAC, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
May 28, Westsylvania Jazz & Blues Festival, Downtown Indiana
CEO Headlines Winter 2016
More than 400 people attended the
2015 Chamber Annual Luncheon,
making it a highly successful event.
The luncheon was held on December
4, in the Ed Fry Arena at the KCAC. A
networking reception began at 11 a.m.
followed by lunch being served at
noon. At the luncheon, Dennis Yablonsky, CEO of the Allegheny Conference, was the keynote speaker for
the event. A native of the Pittsburgh
region, Yablonsky is an accomplished
and experienced veteran of managing
and leading dynamic business growth
– as a private business leader, a nonprofit economic development professional and a high-ranking appointed
government official.
Connect With Us
Real Estate Update
Is Your Property Listed On
www.indianacountyceo.com?
801 Water Street
Indiana, PA 15701-1705
Phone 724-465-2662
www.indianacountyceo.com
Windy Ridge Business
&Technology Park
ABOUT THE CEO
The Indiana County Center for Economic
Operations (CEO) is a partnership organization dedicated
to promoting the County as a great place to learn, invest,
work, live and play. The CEO’s mission is to foster the
right environment for job creation and professional success
through business services, site selection, financing
assistance, and workforce development.
INDIANA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
INDIANA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
INDIANA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
INDIANA COUNTY TOURIST BUREAU
INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SUMMARY OF OFFERED SERVICES
Business and industrial parks
Site selection assistance
Tax incentives (KOEZ/KOIZ/KIZ)
Small business consulting
Visitor information
PAGE 4
Multi-tenant buildings
Small business incubator
Financial assistance
Education and training
Networking opportunities
Work for the Route 286 US 422 Interchange West project is expected to begin
in March, weather permitting. Work includes widening, signals, turn lanes and
other improvements on Route 286 from
Walmart to Louise Drive, the entrance to
the State Police Barracks and Creps
United Publications. This project will also
provide turning lanes and signals for
access to the developing Windy Ridge
Business & Technology Park.
Work in the park itself continues: paving,
seeding, light standard placement, electrical and fiber optic conduit is being finalized. Retention ponds have been excavated as well as roadway pavement arrows and side markers, in preparation for
actual final connection to Route 286.
As spring weather improves, more and
more infrastructure improvements will
become evident.
119 Business Park
A lease agreement has been
signed with Trinity Energy Services of Argyle, Texas for the
(2) 13-acre parcels in the 119
Business Park (Joseph Land
Development) on SR Route 119
South in Center Township
(Coral/Graceton). The site is
expected to be used as a hub of
operations with the placement
of office job site trailers, parking
for in excess of 300 employees,
vehicle and equipment and
materials will be on site. The
lease started on November 15
and will run through December
31, 2016. Trinity Energy Services is a Dallas/Fort Worth
based EPC Midstream oil and
gas company
For more real estate
information, please visit the CEO
website:
www.indianacountyceo.com
CEO Headlines
Indiana County Center for Economic Operations
Holiday Inn Express Considers A
New Location At The Windy Ridge
Business & Technology Park
Indiana County Tourist Bureau (For details call 724-463-7505) www.visitindianacountypa.org
March 18-20, Indiana Armstrong Builders Association Home Show, S&T Arena
March 25, 6th Annual Good Friday Breakfast, Indiana County YMCA, 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
April 9, Fool’s Run 10K & 5K Run, S&T Arena
April 25 -30, Indiana Arts Council Youth Arts Celebration
May 20 -21, May Mart Flower & Craft Festival, S&T Arena

Winter 2016
Business Update
INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
www.indianacountyceo.com
The Chamber luncheon theme was
innovation and technology. Yablonsky
provided business and economic
development insight plus explained
how innovation, technology and education has transformed Pittsburgh into
a mecca for new industries and corporations and how Indiana County can
benefit from this regional growth.
The Chamber also recognized former
Commissioner, Patty Evanko, for her
dedicated service to Indiana County
and the Chamber.
Hotel Announced For Windy Ridge
P1
New Commissioner Joins CEO Affiliate Team P1
Chamber Annual Membership Luncheon P1
Typical Hotel Exterior Photograph
Focus On Randall Industries CEO P2
IUP In Our Sights P2
Downtown Indiana & Tourism Spotlight P2
Unemployment Update P4
Calendar of Events P4
Real Estate Update P4
On January 12, the White Township Planning Commission
granted approval of a preliminary site plan to develop a Holiday Inn Express at the Windy Ridge Business & Technology
Park along SR 286 West, southwest of the US 422 interchange. The proposed hotel property will occupy Lot 1A,
which is at the entrance to the Park. The three-story hotel
will contain approximately 77 rooms. Part of the plan also
includes a potential restaurant/retail location. The White
Township Planning Commission also approved the placement of a 45-foot sign adjacent to SR 286 to provide visibility
from the US 422 interchange. The engineer, Harshman CE
Group LLC, suggested plans to start construction on the
hotel project this summer.
The Windy Ridge property is being developed by the Indiana
County Development Corporation as part of its mission to
stimulate economic development and job creation in Indiana
County. This past year, the ICDC has been developing
roads, utilities, and site grading for the Phase 2 area, which
comprises about 63-acres total, with 6 pad-ready sites ranging in size from 2.7 to 15.9 acres.
The Windy Ridge development will be a mixed use project,
with a blend of commercial, retail, offices, and light industrial
sites. The ICDC is currently engaged in discussions with
several other prospective developers. Phase I of the Windy
Ridge project was initiated in 2012, after the fire that destroyed the Creps United Publications building on West Philadelphia Street.
www.indianacountyceo.com
The ICDC fast-tracked a new home for the native Indiana
County business and helped them get back up and running
by late 2013.
The Chamber Annual Luncheon is
available for viewing on the Chamber's website and YouTube channel.
www.indianacountychamber.com
In this issue
The ICDC will commence engineering and permitting for
Phase 3 of the project later in 2016, with construction likely
to start in 2017. At full development, the Windy Ridge development will connect SR286 with Rustic Lodge Road, to the
south, and add 143 acres of business sites to the ICDC’s
inventory, with parcels ranging in size up to 20 acres.
A New Commissioner Joins The
CEO Affiliate Team
Sherene Hess was elected Indiana
County Commissioner in November, 2015 after a two decade long
career in conservation. Commissioner Hess’s accomplishments
include working with agricultural
producers in western PA to conserve soil and water, expansion
and relocation of the county recycling center, and bringing together
of hundreds of water quality education projects across the state. She
also has held appointments on
local and state advisory boards
over the years.
As a result of her professional assignments and her
work as president of the League of Women Voters for
fourteen years, Commissioner Hess understands the
complex issues facing Indiana County. Her main goals
for her term are to work with Commissioner Baker and
Commissioner Ruddock to deliver crucial human services that protect the most vulnerable and needy; to
provide for a tax assessment administration that is fair
and equitable; to expand capacity for drug and alcohol
and mental health services within the community; and to
promote business and job creation in the county.
Commissioner Hess earned a degree in environmental
resources management through the College of Agriculture at Penn State University. She and her late husband
Mark have four sons: two in college and two in high
school.
Commissioner Hess was quoted as saying, “Agriculture
plays an important role in the landscape, culture, and
economy of Indiana County. Much of the County has
prime agricultural land that supports productive farming,
which is one important component of the County’s
economic vitality.”