C entral P ennsylvania
Real Estate Journal — Central Pennsylvania — March 16 - 29, 2018 — 7C
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M id A tlantic
ifflin County is stra- tegi cal ly l ocated within one day’s Nick Felice, Mifflin County Industrial Development Corporation The economy of Mifflin County is based on manufacturing and a high-technology M
drive of one hundred and fifty-two million consumers. Situated along the Juniata River Valley, in the center of Pennsylvania, it is home to 46,371 residents. Its topogra- phy is defined by soaring for- ested ridges that separates the county into series of valleys, which run from southwest to northeast. Historically an important crossroads, Mifflin County is well positioned to access locations throughout the Commonwealth, Mid- Atlantic States, the Mid-West and southern Canada. U.S. Route 322 bisects the Coun- ty allowing access to points north and south, connect- ing to Interstates 80, 81 and 99. Lewistown, the County Seat, is within three hours of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, State College, Baltimore and Washington, DC. Class one rail service is provided by Norfolk Southern. The nearest passenger air ser- vice is 45-minutes north at the University Park Airport. Huntingdon County is lo- cated in central Pennsylvania, just South of State College, PA. Colleges include Juniata College and Pennsylvania Highlands Community Col- lege. The main campus of elite Pennsylvania State Univer- sity is just over the county’s northern border. The flagship Penn State campus “is outside the county, but it’s one of the leading county employers” says Reitman. Juniata is a private, selective, 1,600 student, liberal arts college. Juniata has bio- chemistry and health sciences departments with an unheard of acceptance rate of over 90% for pre-medical and health profession students at medical or professional schools. The expertise of Juniata College and Penn State Uni- versity, as well as the Entre-
Mifflin County, PA
The economy of Mifflin County is based on conven- tional and high-tech manufac- turing, warehousing as well as healthcare, professional services and a vibrant tourist economy based on our natural beauty and resources. With a labor force size of 20,978, the workforce is diversified, loyal and dedicated. Cur- rent unemployment rate is 5.6%. Average commuting time is 21-minutes. Primary and secondary schools as well as medical facilities regularly
rank in the top tier of lists. Employers have access to South Hills School of Business & Technology, Harrisburg Area Community College and the Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology: all of which provide training and skills enhancement to a quality local workforce. Col- leges and universities, located within one hour, include Penn State University, Bucknell University, Susquehanna Uni- versity and Juniata College. 12.09 % of the population have
Bachelor’s degree or higher, with a median household in- come of $ 42,109. Product sectors include chemicals, paper/packag- ing goods, medical equip- ment, food, plastics, steel and healthcare. Notable employ- ers include General Electric Inspection Services, Philips Ultrasound, First Quality Baby Products, Trinity Plas- tics, Overhead Door, Marlette Homes, Standard Steel, Cor- vette America and Geisinger Health System. Being located bikers from across the country and overseas. Huntingdon County Busi- ness and Industry (HCBI) Executive Director Bob Reit- man describes the types of companies the county would like to attract. “We are seeing entrepreneurial growth in our Keystone Innovation Zone, but we also have strengths in agriculture, tourism, re- tirement and education. We think there’s more of a place for software and mixed manu- facturing. We have innovation and strength in metalwork- ing manufacturing.” There are also state and county incentives to help companies. including tax breaks through the Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ) program, and low-interest HCBI and County Enterprise Zones.
between the state capital, Har- risburg and Pennsylvania’s largest land grant university, Penn State, Mifflin County has great access to educational, cultural and concert experi- ences not found in many rural areas. Companies and investors looking for a low cost of doing business in a central east coast location, need to give Mifflin County a serious look. Seventy manufacturers employing over 2,500 residents believe that to be the case. n JC Blair hospital has just opened a new Cardiac Cath Lab that has been much more successful than predicted. “We’ve had over 400 people come in for heart catheter- izations since May,” said Dr. Michael Sabatini, the lab’s medical director. Agriculture is sizable, with a sizable organic grower’s com- munity, and farmer’s markets in local towns. Timber prod- ucts are available since the county is heavily forested. Huntingdon County res- idents often return to the county after leaving for edu- cation and early job experi- ences for an extremely safe environment with community- involved schools. People come back to the county to raise families. People also move continued on page 20C
Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania emerges as a great place to recreate, learn, and to growbusinesses
Huntingdon County
preneurial Communities initia- tive spearheaded by HCBI, the Juniata Sill Incubator, and the County Planning Department provide startups/expansions with places, funding, and sup- port to grow through early stages. The region has outstanding scenery, Raystown Lake, the largest inland lake in Penn- sylvania, incredible hiking trails, abundant hunting, and world-class fishing, hiking, and mountain biking,. U.S.
presidents have often fished in Huntington County.Dwight Eisenhower and Jimmy Carter would take their helicopters and land right at Spruce Creek, from Washington DC to fish. Residents knew when they came because they heard their helicopters flying over. Bicycling magazine has ranked Huntingdon in the top five biking areas in all of Amer- ica. A mountain bike festival called Dirt Rag Dirt Fest alone attracts about 3,000 mountain
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