East Franklin TWP., PA — CWM Environmental, Inc. broke ground for their 9,600 s/f building in the West Hills Industrial Park on April 1, 2015. The new building will consolidate CWM Environmental’s administrative offices and laboratory. Representatives from CWM Environmental, the Armstrong County Industrial Development Authority (ACIDA) and elected officials participated in the ground breaking ceremony.
Dave Kohl, president & owner of CWM Environmental said the new building will allow his company to consolidate operations and make a long-term commitment in Armstrong County. “Our new building in the West Hills Industrial Park will allow us to streamline our operations. Currently our administrative, laboratory and field staff are located in multiple facilities. With field operations throughout western Pennsylvania, our new location provides easy access in every direction.”
Royce Young, vice-chairman of the ACIDA indicated that CWM Environmental purchased lot 29 in the West Hills Industrial Park from the ACIDA in August 2014. He added, “CWM is an excellent addition to the industrial park. Our staff worked tirelessly to understand their exact needs and found a location and financing programs that helped them to expand locally.”
Armstrong County chairman commissioner David Battaglia, added, “On behalf of the Board of Commissioners, thank you for your continued investment in Armstrong County. CWM Environmental is a true local success and while it's important to attract new businesses, successful counties attribute 75% of their job growth to existing businesses. With this expansion CWM will now bring their total employment to 53 and plans to add 15 full time employees within three years. That’s 71 family-sustaining jobs for our residents.”
Although he was unable to attend due to obligations in Harrisburg, Representative Jeff Pyle (PA 60th) congratulated Kohl and CWM Environmental. “This is exactly why Armstrong County’s industrial park system is in place; to provide a place for businesses to expand, whether they’re from Armstrong County or elsewhere.”
Senator Don White (PA 41st) said, “This groundbreaking is symbolic of a true partnership that’s allowing a home-grown business to expand right here in Armstrong County. I commend CWM for undertaking this aggressive expansion and the ACIDA for helping to make it possible. The ACIDA, by including a number of their properties within Keystone Opportunity Zones (KOZ), is able to use it as a very valuable incentive to advance job creation opportunities. KOZs would not be possible without collective support from the Armstrong County Commissioners, Armstrong School Board and East Franklin Township Supervisors. This is another example of that collaboration working for the betterment of our community.”
Kohl added that the company has applied for financing through the state Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority loan program and wanted to thank the state representatives for making these types of funding options available