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GREATER WILKES-BARRE CHAMBER ANNOUNCES EDA FUNDING TO CREATE GREAT VALLEY INNOVATION CENTER (Former Woolworth's Building) IN DOWNTOWN WILKES-BARRE
WILKES-BARRE, PA (August 14) - A "New Economy" facility created within an "Old Economy" shell in the heart of Downtown Wilkes-Barre. That's the concept behind the creation of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber's Great Valley Innovation Center in the former Woolworth's building on South Main Street in Downtown Wilkes-Barre. And today, that project took a major step forward as U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, Deputy Assistant Secretary U.S. Commerce Economic Development Administration Steve Nesmith (Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce) joined Chamber President/CEO Stephen Barrouk in announcing a $2,000,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
Designed to be more than an office building or a traditional business incubator, the Center will foster new technology and serve as a place to combine energy, ideas and expertise to encourage entrepreneurship and create quality jobs. As Chamber President Steve Barrouk describes, "The Chamber, with the help of the Great Valley Technology Alliance staff and partners, created the plans for a Great Valley Innovation Center -- the first facility of its kind in Luzerne County. The location of the Center was carefully chosen to complement the Chamber's ongoing efforts to revitalize Downtown Wilkes-Barre and to utilize the energies and talents of the region's colleges and universities. What we are creating in this facility is an example of what the Chamber has been working to do Ñgenerate quality, highly skilled jobs in Northeastern Pennsylvania." Luzerne County Commissioner Tom Makowski adds, "We are very excited about what is happening with this project Ð and the good news that Senator Santorum and Assistant Deputy Secretary Nesmith bring today. The Luzerne County Commissioners have been on board with this project from the very beginning as we worked with the Chamber to secure the facility. And, we look forward to continuing that partnership to help this community realize the benefits a project like this can bring in terms of job creation and investment in the region."
The 60,000 square foot former Woolworth's facility is one of three centers of its kind to be built in the region Ð with the other centers to be located in Downtown Scranton and Downtown Hazleton. Space on the top two floors of the Wilkes-Barre facility would be leased to new and emerging information technology and related businesses. Complementary uses, including possibly retail, are being explored for the first floor and lower levels. It is estimated that the center could lead to the creation of 300 new jobs. The Chamber has already begun programmatic planning for the Center with the help of an expert consultant Thomas W. Mailey of New York. Bohlin Cywinski Jackson is doing preliminary architectural design work. Construction manager for the project is Sordoni Construction Services. E.D. Pons is the structural engineer for the project, and Martin & Rogers will handle electrical and mechanical engineering. The Center is estimated to cost $6.3 million, including equipment and construction. Renovation work will commence by the end of this year, and it is expected that the facility will be ready for initial tenant fit up by the fall of 2003.
"It is our hope that the Great Valley Innovation Center in Wilkes-Barre will become part of network of centers that will work together to serve the entire region's Entrepreneurial needs," states Barrouk. "This center offers the physical space necessary to spur business growth. The Great Valley Innovation Center will be focused on creating the necessary programs that facilitate this growth, regardless of where the entrepreneurs may be physically located." Commenting on the partnerships that are helping to build the facility, Barrouk continues, "I want to personally thank Senator Santorum, Deputy Assistant Secretary Nesmith and the Economic Development Administration for their support of our work to bring technology jobs here to Northeastern Pennsylvania. It is also important to note that, to make this project a reality, the Chamber is working with a host of partners, including the Department of Commerce, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, Senator Santorum, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the entire legislative delegation representing the region, the county's five colleges and universities, the Ben Franklin Partnership, area small business lenders, the Luzerne County Board of Commissioners and elected officials from the local area. These partnerships are critical in helping us turn this familiar Wilkes-Barre landmark to productive use as a catalyst for meaningful economic growth for the new century."
The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry works to unite business and industry with the vast resources of our region in an effort to foster business growth and investments create quality jobs and improve the quality of life for the residents of the Greater Wilkes-Barre area.
The Great Valley Technology Alliance is an organization dedicated to developing a knowledge-based, technology focused economy for Northeastern Pennsylvania.
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