Industrial Projects Highlighted at Franklin County Area Development Corp. Breakfast
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — Franklin County, Pa., gained 105 jobs from $18.6 million in capital investments for seven businesses last year.
L. Michael Ross, president of the Franklin County Area Development Corp., shared statistics Thursday with hundreds of people gathered for his organization’s annual “State of the Economy” breakfast.
Among the highlights of 2018 were Jamison Door Co. and Fil-Tec Industrial Park expanding at the Wharf Road Industrial Park in Washington Township, Pa., Ross said.
“It has been a 20-year journey, but we got it built out,” he said of the industrial park on what once was the Bromley orchard.
The breakfast at Chambersburg Country Club featured opening remarks from U.S. Rep. John Joyce.
Joyce highlighted his committee assignments and priorities of addressing the opioid epidemic, cybersecurity and the needs of small businesses.
Joyce, a dermatologist, described how rural health systems have difficulty filling openings for providers.
“Why can’t we recruit people back to their hometowns?” said Joyce, R-Pa.
Ross described similar issues with economic development, saying the county needs additional affordable housing and expanded social and human services to remain attractive to employers.
Ross said Antrim Commons Business Park at exit 3 of Interstate 81 in Antrim Township, Pa., is one of the main locations being considered by employers.
Staples is moving a distribution center to the business park, and NorthPoint Development has a commitment from an as-yet-unnamed tenant for a 1-million-square-foot building.
“They’re working now on a project that would lead to another building being built,” he said.