Governor Corbett announced the award of a $2.5 million Economic Growth Initiative grant to Laird Technologies, Inc. Hermitage Technology and Innovation Center in Hermitage, Mercer County. The grant is part of a $16.3 million construction project and is expected to create and support more than 500 new and existing jobs in Mercer County.
The proposed 70,000 square foot facility will house a world-class, high-technology electronics manufacturing and research and development operation. Laird Technologies manufactures components that protect electronic devices from electromagnetic interference and heat, as well as develops products that enable and enhance wireless and antennae connectivity.”
“With this new facility, Laird Technologies is taking a major step forward in making Western Pennsylvania a home for high-tech manufacturing,” Corbett said. “Laird Technologies will be a welcome addition to the LindenPointe Innovative Business Campus and will create high skilled, well-paying jobs for Mercer County residents.”
Site preparation and construction on the new building will begin this October and is expected to last approximately a year.
The Economic Growth Initiative is an administration-sponsored economic development program that provides local communities with grants for the acquisition and construction of economic, cultural, civic, and historical improvement projects.
Earlier this month, the Corbett Administration announced the award of 6 new Economic Growth Initiative grants. These projects, totaling $30 million, will create or retain more than 24,300 jobs in the counties in which they are located.
Last year, Corbett reformed the state’s method of funding redevelopment assistance capital projects with a significant redesign, making the process more transparent and objective. Projects are now selected based upon their job-creation potential, their economic impact, as well as their viability and construction readiness.
For a full listing of approved projects, submission criteria, and more information, visit the Budget Office online at www.budget.state.pa.us and select the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program link.