Thompson Announces $980,000 in Federal Funding For Jackson Township Access Road

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT' Thompson today announced $980,000 in federal funding to design and construct an access road for a future 65-acre business park development in Cambria County.

Rep. Thompson made the announcement on the first day of Infrastructure Week.

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awarded the funding to Jackson Township to build the road for the business park, which will be located at the northwest quadrant of U.S. Route 22 and Chickaree Hill Road. The business park will be suitable for mixed use facilities including light manufacturing, distribution, technology based and service oriented businesses.

"I am pleased to see ARC making this important investment Cambria County," Rep. Thompson said. "This is tremendous news for Jackson Township and the future business park. This road will provide critical infrastructure to promote commerce and development in the region and lead to job creation, which is exactly what ARC grants are intended to do."

"The Southern Alleghenies Planning & Development Commission regularly works with municipalities and other stakeholders on ARC access road and area development projects," said Transportation Program Manager Brandon Peters, MPA. "This project is exceptional because investment from ARC, the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program, and Jackson Township are being partnered to deliver this development opportunity. Two hundred family-sustaining jobs are expected to be created over three years. The development and job creation potential would not be possible without ARC's investment in the access road and in our region."

"The Jackson Township Supervisors, Bruce Baker, John Wallet and Eric Dreikorn, are excited to hear the news of the ARC Grant Award for the Jackson Township Business Park Project and would like to thank everyone involved who helped in making it possible for this important project to move forward," said David Hirko, Jackson Township Manager and Secretary-Treasurer. "Once developed, the business park is anticipated to create hundreds of new jobs, additional tax revenue and lots of spin-off economic activity in our community and region. The vision of the Supervisors more than 10 years ago is now becoming a reality and everyone is excited to see it happen!"

ABOUT THE PROJECT

This project will design and construct 2,100-linear feet of roadway, a 400-linear foot right turn lane on U.S. 22 with signal improvements, and a cul-de-sac that will provide new access to 4 pad ready sites on 65-acres of developable land, ultimately leading to the creation of 200 jobs.

The new roadway will require drainage, including base drains, ditches, inlets and storm pipes.

The entire property encompasses approximately 135 acres of land. The Business Park development will provide for 4 pad ready sites with transportation access, ranging in size from 7 to 31-acres suitable for a mixed use of facilities for light manufacturing, distribution, high tech, and service-oriented business.

ABOUT THE ARC

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 420 counties across the Appalachian region. ARC's mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia and help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.