Gov. Rendell Marks Significant Economic Progress in Mercer County

Grove City, Farrell Poised for Growth

MERCER, Pa., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the help of state investments, one of Mercer County's top employers will create 327 new jobs, and a brownfield site will be transformed to create 50 more, Governor Edward G. Rendell said today.

"Expansion of an important regional player, a new manufacturing company reclaiming abandoned industrial sites and creating 50 new jobs -- all as the result of proactive investments we have been making for the past five years to generate job growth and make a difference in our communities," Governor Rendell said. "It's no accident that Pennsylvania is positioned to weather any national economic downturn that might be heading our way.

"The budget I proposed earlier this month will help us protect our progress and do even more for communities throughout Pennsylvania."

State assistance for the two Governor's Action Team projects totaled more than $2 million, which will leverage $6.87 million in additional private investments by the companies.

US Investigations Services LLC agreed to create the 327 jobs in its Grove City and Boyers, Butler County, locations and retain 1,601 positions. USIS, which provides security products and services, is investing some $7 million on IT infrastructure and software to give it the foundation for additional growth in the region.

Performance Processing Ventures LLC leased what had been a vacant brownfield site on a highly-visible thoroughfare in Farrell -- an Act 47 "financially distressed" community. The newly-formed company pledged to create at least 50 manufacturing jobs within three years, providing metal processing and fabrication services. PPV is located in a designated Keystone Opportunity Zone, which means it may receive significant tax abatements.

For information on the Governor's Action Team and DCED programs, visit http://www.NewPA.com or call 1-866-466-3972.

More information on Governor Rendell's 2008-09 budget proposal and his Protecting Our Progress initiatives is available at: http://www.pa.gov.

The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit http://www.governor.state.pa.us.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Project details are attached

US Investigations Services LLC:

US Investigations Services is expanding its presence in western Pennsylvania and will create new jobs at its Grove City and Boyers, Butler County, locations. The company will also conduct training for its new investigations personnel and incumbent workforce.

USIS will invest approximately $7 million on its IT infrastructure and software, as well other systems designed to make the business operate more efficiently and give it the foundation necessary for additional growth. The company will also train its new employees and incumbent workforce. As part of its project, USIS committed to creating 327 new jobs within three years and retaining 1,601 positions.

The team's $1.95 million offer to the company includes a $650,000 opportunity grant, $325,000 in customized job training funds and $981,000 in job creation tax credits.

The commonwealth competed for this project and was chosen by the company because of the quality of the company's existing employees as well as western Pennsylvania's quality of living.

To learn more about US Investigations Services, visit http://www.usis.com.

Performance Processing Ventures LLC:

Under a strategic partnership with Frontier Steel, Performance Processing Ventures will perform plate burning and assembly welding for Homeland Security and the Boeing Corporation.

The company is leasing a vacant, 20,000-square-foot industrial building on a brownfield site in the city of Farrell - an Act 47 community. The facility is also located within a designated Keystone Opportunity Zone. Performance Processing will purchase steel fabricating and robotic equipment. As part of its commitment to the state, the company agreed to create at least 50 new jobs within three years.

The team's $72,500 offer to the company consists of a $50,000 opportunity grant and $22,500 in customized job training funds. The total cost of the project will be $1.9 million.

Performance Processing Ventures is a newly formed company that will provide metal processing and fabrication services throughout western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.

CONTACT: Teresa Candori of the Pennsylvania Office of the Governor (717) 783-1116; or Penny Kline of the Pennsylvania DCED (717) 783-1132

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor