Joe Sisley’s fingerprints are all more than economic development in Westmoreland County.
“Joe has sold or leased each individual home in Westmoreland County’s industrial park system,” reported Jason Rigone, government director of the county’s Industrial Development Corp.
There are extra than 170 organizations occupying 1,200 acres of land and — right up until the coronavirus pandemic — using up to 10,000 employees in the county’s 18 industrial parks. Sisley, 66, of Hempfield, has been instrumental in it all. After a 43-12 months profession as the advertising director of the county’s financial development agency, Sisley is retiring at year’s end.
He was there when the county’s to start with industrial park was built in early 1980s and sealed the previous deal of his extensive vocation this month with the sale of a 6.23 acre good deal in Westmoreland Business & Exploration Park, in Washington Township and Upper Burrell, to WAB Associates LLC.
The enterprise signifies New Jersey-based Weiss-Aug Team, which designs to create a 60,000 sq. foot production facility with office house in the park. Weiss-Aug Group is a present-day tenant in the park with its JK Instrument procedure, which expanded previously this yr. Facts of the new manufacturing operation have been not disclosed but county officials mentioned it is envisioned the company’s whole work at the park to improve more than the next 3 to 5 yrs to 75, up from the current personnel of 25.
Westmoreland Company & Analysis Park was built in 1992 and now serves as residence to 21 firms that employ a lot more than 2,580 personnel. It generates close to $1.9 million in county and community taxes each and every 12 months, county officials claimed. Just one particular good deal and about 3.6 acres at the park stay unsold or leased.
In all, the county’s industrial park program generates about $7 million in assets tax profits for the county.
Rigone reported the good results of the county’s industrial park plan and the around completion of the Westmoreland Small business and Analysis Park is thanks in big portion to Sisley’s attempts.
“If you know men and women who function in Westmoreland County and in the industrial parks, Joe’s almost certainly had a hand in that,” Rigone mentioned.
Sisley, a delicate-spoken gentleman who normally appears to be to stay clear of the spotlight, was honored by county commissioners previously this month for his long vocation.
“It was sort of a bait-and-change. I went there imagining anyone else was staying acknowledged. It was a actual shock,” Sisley stated.
Rigone identified as Sisley “the ethical compass of our place of work,” and a person whose do the job ethic is unparalleled.
The most the latest sale caps a successful 12 months for the financial enhancement business and for Sisley. Much more than 52 acres at three industrial parks ended up sold in 2021.
In February, the WCIDC sold 19.92 acres at I-70 Industrial Park in South Huntington to Wyatt Inc., and in October finalized the sale of 25.9 acres at Commerce Crossing at Westmoreland to Al Neyer.
Watt Inc. has explained it plans to create a 120,000 sq. foot facility and a 250,000 square foot distribution heart is predicted to be developed at the Commerce Crossing web site in Sewickley.
In August, the company leased much more than 55,000 square foot at the Jeannette Industrial Park to new tenant FC Meyer Packaging.
Leases for space at South Greensburg Commons and the Mt. Pleasurable Glass Centre also were leased before this 12 months and are expected to help 500 new and current work opportunities when they get to entire ability.
The accomplishment of the county’s industrial park system and its great importance to Westmoreland’s economic progress initiatives is a stage of satisfaction for Sisley.
“It indicates I was part of a superb group,” Sisley said. “It indicates I did my job.”
Wealthy Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Overview workers writer. You can call Rich at 724-830-6293, [email protected] or via Twitter .