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Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal — Economic Development — January 27 - February 9, 2012 — 33A

E CONOMIC D EVELOPMENT

By Martin Marasco, Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation Economic development in Altoona-Blair County, PA

A

mainline of Norfolk Southern as well as a number of short line operators daily. ABCD Corp. has an inventory of rail-served locations to fit the needs of the natural gas in- dustry today as well as plans for additional acreage in the future. Penn State Altoona has created an innovative Rail Transportation Engi- neering Degree Program that isn’t offered anywhere else in the country. The first stu- dents in the program started in the fall 2011 semester, and when they graduate they will be ready to work in the

s the development of the Marcellus Shale play continues, and

the southern portion of the county and adjacent to the Walter Business Park which

demanding and specialized rail industry. Blair County is training the workforce and maintaining the infrastruc- ture for rail today and into the future. Keep your eyes on Blair County, PA and ABCD Corp. We prove everyday that “When you really, really be- lieve….Great Things Hap- pen!” Martin J. Marasco, President and CEO of the Altoona-Blair County Development Corpora- tion. ■

The importance of Blair County’s strong rail history

t h e l o n g - term future potential of t h e Ut i c a Shale Play is determined, the Altoona- Blair Coun- ty region of Pennsylva-

The importance of Blair County’s strong rail his- tory continues through today as we have a strong rail infrastructure serving a variety of sites and buildings as well as one-of-a-kind education.

Martin Marasco

is home to the Sheetz Dis- tribution Center and Sheetz Bros. Kitchen. The business park has direct access to I- 99 and the potential for rail served sites as well.

continues through today as we have a strong rail infra- structure serving a variety of sites and buildings as well as one-of-a-kind education. Our county is serviced from the

nia is ideally positioned to serve the supply and manu- facturing needs of the indus- try. With a positive combina- tion of a qualified workforce, location, and Interstate 99, the Altoona-Blair County Development Corp. (ABCD Corp.) was proud to wel- come Gardner Denver’s En- gineered Products Group to Blair County, PA in 2011. Within the next couple of months, Gardner Denver will be operating in its new, state- of-the-art 70,000 square-foot facility in Antis Township, Blair County, Pennsylvania to respond to its rapid growth in the natural gas industry. The facility will manufacture and remanufacture high pres- sure pumps and will provide onsite service and parts dis- tribution to its customers in the Marcellus Shale region. The $15 million project will create at least 40 new jobs within three years. Executives from Gardner Denver cited that the loca- tion and skilled labor were key drivers towards their decision to decide on Blair County. “This site is centrally locat- ed within the entire Marcel- lus Shale Play and will allow us to service our current and future clients easily with direct access to I-99,” stated Addy Farou, VP of Manufac- turing for Gardner Denver. In anticipation of the fu- ture site needs of not only the natural gas industry, but all opportunities for new and existing companies, ABCD Corp. will begin development of its 8th Business/Indus- trial Park in the county. The availability of developable acreage is always on the top of ABCD Corp.’s priority list and 2012 will mark the start of to add 80+ additional acres for development. This busi- ness park will be located in

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