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Governor Rendell Brings Money to the Valley August
5th, 2008 IRT
selects LindenPointe... July 1, 2008
LindenPointe Awarded Federal Grant June 21st, 2008
Altmire, English Announce $800,000 for Tech Center June
20th, 2008 Tech
Park Growing April 8th, 2008 Novocell Semiconductor is creating the future When funding comes in, tech center to go up The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry - Industry Partnership Grant Technology center seen as key to diversify economy Governor Rendell Announces Thirty-Five New Jobs in Mercer County Cypress Semiconductor Design Team Locating at LindenPointe Officials tout new high-tech tenant Officials stop in at planned tech park Partnerships made tech park possible
Hermitage / Sharon,
PA
IRT selects LindenPointe
to serve Customers around the Country and around the Globe HERMITAGE, PA
LindenPointe Training & Workforce
Development Building Click here for larger picture.
Altmire, English Announce $800,000 for Hermitage Technology Center FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tech Park Growing
Hudson Holding Co. is planning to put up a medical and
professional building in the LindenPointe technical business park in Hermitage. Novocell Semiconductor is creating the future By Holly Mantle Marketing and Communications Coordinator It all begins with expertise, imagination, and dedication. Founded in 2001 by President and CEO David Novosel, Novocell Semiconductor Inc. provides advanced memory solutions to the semiconductor industry. While the Pittsburgh and Mercer County region is not known for its semiconductor industry, Novocell is quickly changing this perception. Located in Hermitage, Novocell has become the foundation of a rapidly growing semiconductor industry in the state. With their invention of NovoBlox One-Time-Programmable (OTP) Memory, Novocell is proving that you do not have to be in Silicon Valley to make an impact on this industry. In 2005, Novocell expanded their operations and established its headquarters in LindenPointe Innovative Business Campus, a 115-acre technical park. Novocell currently employs eight people and is a privately held company. As a member of the Technology Collaborative, Novocell maintains a strong network of technical experts that it leverages to drive innovation in its solutions. Included in this network are researchers and developers from Carnegie Mellon University, Penn State University, the University of Pittsburgh and other TTC member companies. Novocell's core is its innovative and dedicated design who have extensive experience in custom memory development. Novocell's design team is committed to first pass silicon success. Novocell's memory designs have been adopted by many leading semiconductor companies. Novocell has also recently engaged Soliton Systems K.K. to distribute its products in Japan. Novocell is a member of the Fabless Semiconductor Association (FSA). In October 2006, Novocell introduced its innovative NovoBlox One-Time-Programmable (OTP) Memory to the semiconductor industry at the Fabless Semiconductor Association (FSA) Suppliers Expo and Conference in San Jose, California. With the national release of this product, Novocell Semiconductor has positioned itself as a significant memory intellectual property (IP) provider in the semiconductor industry. NovoBlox OTP Memory is a type of memory that can only be written once and then cannot be changed again. The memory is similar to writing a letter in ink rather than in pencil because permanent ink cannot be erased. NovoBlox memory is implemented in a wide range of electronic devices such as MP3 players, hard disk drives, LCD displays and cable television and satelite receivers. NovoBlox is vital to the reliability and high-performance capabilities of these electronic devices. In 2007, Novocell will generate increased exposure and gain new customers for NovoBlox memory through participation in industry seminars and conferences. Novocell's design team will continue to enhance the memory technology to provide customers with an innovative and reliable memory block. An exciting project for Novocell in 2007 will be expanding its reach into the global marketplace and introducing NovoBlox internationally. While the company has established a presence in Japan through Systems K.K., a Japanese distributor, Novocell is now prepared to introduce its memory technology to companies in Europe and Asia. Novocell Semiconductor is able to communicate with and compete against businesses from across the nation and world because of technological advances. With the advent of the Internet, getting in contact with potential customers and business partners has never been easier. Novocell hopes to be an example to others who wish to start a technology company in the Mercer County area. Indeed, the world is flat and the playing field has been leveled. Back to top When funding comes in, tech center to go up By Joe Pinchot Herald Staff Writer Although funding to build a new technology center in the LindenPointe technical business park has not been found, Hermitage city officials want to make sure that, once money is available, they will be able to act quickly. HHSDR Architects/Engineers, Sharon, who presented their near-final design Thursday to the members of the Hermitage Community and Economic Development Commission, will have bid documents and specifications done by the end of the month. If the money comes, construction could start within two months of the availability, said HHSDR President J. Greer Hayden. City officials received two state grants to design the center, and have two applications in to the state and federal governments to build it. Assistant City Manager Gary M. Gulla said he has gotten positive feedback and requests for more information from potential funding agencies, but no definitive answers to the applications. He said he hopes to hear something this year. "At this point, our schedule is at the mercy of the speed of the funding vehicles," he said. He noted that much of the federal money would be tied to education and/or training, which would make it more likely usable for a future phase to expand the center or build a separate building. Officials and HHSDR representitives have been meeting with employees of Cypress Semiconductor and Novocell Semiconductor, both of which are in LindenPointe; Pine Instrument Co., Grove City; and Wintronics, Sharon, to develop ideas for use and layout of the building. "The collaboration that has gone on has been truly excellent," said Sam Giannetti of the West Central Workforce Investment Board, which received a $98,000 state grant to complete the design. The Tech Center plans show it having two incubator suites for startup companies, a testing laboratory for use by high-tech industries, a distance learning center where a college or or other educational training agency could hold classes, possibly using the testing lab, and a reception area with restrooms, a fireplace, and other amentities for all tenants. The floors would be exposed, stained concrete instead of carpeting or flooring to better handle the traffic of companies moving equipment in and out, and there would be no ceilings leaving exposed electrical connections that could be strung wherever tenants need them. The site will soon get a sidewalk and a part of its entranceway as that work was built into a state grant to extend the trails for walking, hiking and biking in LindenPointe, Hayden said. The city recently awarded a contract for the work. Architects used "green" design principles, such as calling for recycled materials, materials that do not impact the environment and local materials to minimize transportation, Hayden said. Architecturally, the gently curving building will have a nearly two-story lobby and "lots of glass, lots of light coming into these spaces," said HHSDR Vice President Matt Franz. HHSDR estimated the building would cost $2.5 million to build, and another $800,000 for testing equipment, furniture, utility and design fees and other costs. Because no one knows when the center could be built, HHSDR included a $138,000 line item for the likelihood that construction costs will go up, on top of a $125,000 contingency fund. The budget will be updated over time, Hayden said. Commission Vice President George Kraynak said the center would be a "real asset" to the park. Giannetti noted that the center plans have been driven by the electronics industry, which Gulla said has grown by 36 percent in the Pittsburgh to Erie region over the last four years. It is one of the industries city officials hope to attract to LindenPointe, and have been successful in doing with Cypress and Novocell. "This project takes advantage of a trend," Giannetti said. "It's not trying to develop something from nothing." Back to top The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry - Industry Partnership Grant State and County Officials Provide Support and Resources to Assist Community and Economic Development Pictured Below: Samuel Giannetti, Executive Director West Central Job Partnership; Angela Palumbo, Site Administrator, Mercer County CareerLink, Mercer County Commissioner, Olivia Lazor; Sandi Vito, Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry; Gary Gulla, Assistant City Manager; Larry Reichart, Executive Director, Penn-Northwest.
The Industry Partnership Grant will be used for the planning and design of the technology center with input from relevant educators and private sector participants. The electronics industry representatives will provide the steering committee with the technology and knowledge to direct the facility design decisions. The process is scheduled to start immediately and be completed by June 30th. The WIB has approved the West Central Job Partnership, Inc. to contract with the City of Hermitage to begin this process. WCJP serves as fiscal agent for workforce development funding for Mercer and Lawrence Counties. The Tech Center project is an initiative driven by regional economic development and workforce partners to develop a facility at LindenPointe to assist technology and innovation focused business development. The conceptual design phase of the Tech Center project included key company and key partner interviews to determine the appropriate programmatic use for a technology center at LindenPointe and explored potential private, educational, technology, training and workforce partnerships in the region. The investment in the Tech Center will provide the resources to the emerging high-tech business that will foster technology development and invention by providing the tools (work stations) and education resources necessary (training and state-of-the-art electronic infrastructure for information and communications). The construction of the Tech Center facility at LindenPointe is a regional funding priority and the Northwest Commission adopted the project as an EDA/ARC priority for the 2005/06 program year. Back to top Technology center seen as key to diversify economy By Joe Pinchot Herald Staff Writer Hermitage city officials are under no illusions that building a technology center in the LindenPointe technical business park will be easy. As they look for funding from federal and state governments, businesses, educational institutions and other agencies, officials understand how the decisions on whether to fund the project will made. "In the end, it's going to be a financial decision," said Assistant City Manager Gary M. Gulla. "Is there a benefit there to justify an infusion of dollars?" City officials believe the benefit of the tech center will reverberate beyond the boundaries of the city and Mercer County. It gives the region an opportunity to diversify the economy, Gulla said. The 10,000-square-foot center, for which the city received a grant of $25,000 to design, could house start-up businesses, classrooms and research centers. City officials have set aside about seven acres in LindenPointe for the center, any future expansions and buildings for related applications that could be put up by non-city entities. The city's focus will be on finding money to build the center. City officials in September 2004 applied for federal funding, but an answer on that application is on hold. The Bush administration has proposed cuttin, scaling back or reconfiguring a host of federal programs, including the two being asked for tech center funding: Appalachian Regional Commission and the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration. The city can only wait to see how the budget discussions will play out, Gulla said. Several state agencies could be asked for funding, and private contributions will also be sought, he said. HHSDR Architects/Engineers, Sharon, estimates it will take about $2.7 million to build the center, which includes $74,000 for special construction of the research labs and $250,000 for technology-related testing equipment. Back to top Governor Rendell Announces Thirty-Five New Jobs in Mercer County Novocell Semiconductor to Expand and Retain Jobs
“Creating and retaining jobs is the top priority of my administration because it is pivotal to Pennsylvania’s economic success,” said Governor Rendell, who was joined by Secretary of Community and Economic Development Dennis Yablonsky. “Today, I’d like to thank the folks from Novocell for their commitment to helping Pennsylvania do both. Its decision to expand its operation creates new jobs and is just one more indication that Pennsylvania is a world technology leader.” Novocell Semiconductor, based in West Middlesex, Mercer County, provides memory products to the semiconductor industry. The company’s non-volatile memory technology increases the speed and efficiency of the chip design process, giving semiconductor designers the ability to develop cutting edge components. Its “system-on-a-chip” components result in smaller digital handsets, faster data networking equipment, more advanced gaming devices and more integrated digital imaging solutions. The Governor’s Action Team, economic-development professionals who report directly to Governor Rendell, worked with Novocell Semiconductor to support its expansion in Mercer County. The Department of Community and Economic Development has agreed to provide a $156,000 financial package that includes a $100,000 Opportunity Grant; $35,000 in job creation tax credits; and a $21,000 training grant through the Workforce and Economic Development Network (WEDnet). Governor Rendell also talked about his unprecedented economic-stimulus program following the initiative’s recent approval by overwhelming, bipartisan majorities of the state Senate and state House of Representatives. By leveraging up to $2 billion in grants, loans and guarantees over the next three years, the stimulus plan will generate an anticipated $5 billion in private-sector investment to help start new businesses in Pennsylvania and help existing companies expand here. The stimulus plan will build on existing programs, such as those offered by the Governor’s Action Team to Novocell. “We now have a Plan for a New Pennsylvania, and the tools we need to build it together,” said Secretary Yablonsky. “This stimulus plan will focus resources on economic and community-development projects across the state, spurring growth and creating new opportunities for Pennsylvanians.” The following economic stimulus programs were recently passed by the full Legislature: Business in Our Sites; Building PA; New PA Venture Guarantee Program; New PA Venture Capital Investment Program; First Industries Fund; 2nd Stage Loan Program; Tax Increment Financing Guarantee Program; and the Infrastructure & Facilities Improvement Program. These programs join other pieces of the overall stimulus program passed in December and February, including the Elm Street program, Keystone Innovation Zones, the expanded Research and Development Tax Credit, the Base Retention and Conversion program and Core Industries. Only two programs in the Governor’s stimulus package are still pending: PennWorks, which will provide $250 million worth of loans and grants to job creation projects that require improvements in water and sewer systems. The Legislature has approved a statewide referendum on whether to adopt this program. The vote is April 27. The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic and historical improvement projects. The majority of the package programs will be administered through the Department of Community and Economic Development. The new legislation also includes the creation of a Commonwealth Financing Authority that will be responsible for financing and oversight of the programs. In addition, to help Governor Rendell revive the state’s economy, Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania recently launched an unprecedented public-private partnership with the Commonwealth – the Citizens Job Bank -- in which Citizens will offer $100 million in loan funds at an extremely low interest rate to companies that commit to creating or expanding jobs in Pennsylvania. The Citizens Job Bank requires borrowers to create a minimum of one full-time job for every $25,000 borrowed at the unmatched interest rate of 2.5 percent. The Bank’s goal is to create more than 4,000 jobs in Pennsylvania within three years. Citizens is waiving all fees traditionally tied to loan applications as an added incentive. For more information on Department of Community and Economic Development programs, visit www.newPA.com, or call 1-866-GO-NEWPA (1-866-466-3972). Back to top City of Hermitage and Penn-Northwest Development Corporation Announces Cypress Semiconductor Design Team Locating at LindenPointe Media Release: October 21, 2004
Tim Fiscus, Principal Design Engineer, commenting on his decision to locate at LindenPointe “I am pleased to be located in the LindenPointe Park and appreciate all of the help that I have received in opening our office. I feel that this technology park and the community is a great place to be located." The local Cypress design team is responsible for designing state of the art memory products for next generation mobile applications. Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE:CY) is Connecting From Last Mile to First Mile (TM) with high-performance solutions for personal, network access, enterprise, metro switch and core communications-system applications. Cypress Connects (TM) using wireless, wireline, digital and optical transmission standards, including USB, Fibre Channel, SONET/SDH, Gigabit Ethernet and DWDM. Leveraging its process and system-level expertise, Cypress makes industry-leading physical layer devices, framers and network search engines, along with a broad portfolio of high-bandwidth memories, timing technology solutions and reconfigurable mixed-signal arrays. More information about Cypress is accessible online at www.cypress.com. Larry Reichard, Executive Director, Penn-Northwest Development Corporation (PNDC) commenting on the announcement said “Creating quality employment opportunities is the top priority of PNDC because it is pivotal to Mercer County and western Pennsylvania’s economic success” and thanked Cypress for their commitment to and its decision to locate their operation in Hermitage. City of Hermitage Board of Commissioners President Sylvia A. Stull added “…the addition of technology companies like Cypress is not only a primary goal of the City, but certainly justifies the City of Hermitage financial and staff commitments to LindenPointe …” The LindenPointe Planned Technical Park is a collaborative effort between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, KAKE Development, Inc., the City of Hermitage and the Penn Northwest Development Corporation to create a new vitality for economic development in the region. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has invested $2.5 million in LindenPointe assisting the local partners with site acquisition and infrastructure development to bring to the market a high-end, shovel-ready, mixed-use planned technical park. The LindenPointe project is a model $6 million public-private economic development initiative. LindenPointe is now on the move, driven by a partnership effort to help businesses grow, to increase the number of small and medium sized entrepreneurial businesses in the region, to diversify the local economy and to create quality employment opportunities in the community. Governor Edward G. Rendell had visited Hermitage in April and announced the Novocell Semiconductor project which is expanding its operation at a site within LindenPointe Innovative Business Campus, creating 35 jobs and retaining five jobs. Today’s announcement of the Cypress project, in conjunction with the Novocell project, builds momentum for LindenPointe and has the local economic development partners excited about the park’s future. Back to top Officials tout new high-tech tenant The company will create 35 good-paying jobs over a three-year period. By Harold Gwin Vindicator Sharon Bureau
Rendell and Dennis Yablonsky, secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development, were the guests of honor at LindenPointe Innovative Business Campus on Pa. Route 18 Tuesdayfor an announcement that Novocell Semiconductor Inc. will be the planned technical park's first industrial tennant. Novocell is a high-tech operation that develops advanced memory technology and solutions for the semiconductor computer chip industry. It has its headquarters in Pittsburgh and operation on Mercer-West Middlesex Road just outside of West Middlesex as well as a design center in Austin, Texas. All of those operations will be combined into one new facility at LindePointe by the end of the year, says D. Chris Keil, president and chief executive officer. LindenPointe is a joint project of the City of Hermitage and KAKE Development Inc. of Hermitage. Announcement Rendell was on a tour of western Pennsylvania touting his recently passed $2.3 billion economic stimulus package and took the opportunity to show up for the Novocell announcement. He outlined the stimulus package but left the Novocell announcement to Yablonsky. Novocell is exactly the type of company the state is hoping to bring into Pennsylvania, Yablonsky told a group of about 100 community and business leaders gathered under a tent adjacent to the company's new home. The company expects to add 35 jobs over a three-year period, he said. Keil said Novocell has eight employees now and the new positions will pay between $50,000 and $125,000 a year. Bringing that type of income to the area will help the community and foster additional business development in the region, Keil said, calling his comapny the "poster child" for economic development here. The Arrangement Novocell won't own its building but will lease space from SEED, Subscribers Encouraging Economic Development, a local non-profit development group committed to helping industrial development and job creation in the Shenango Valley area. SEED is putting up the $1.2 million to construct a two-story, 8,000-square-foot building which will house Novocell and have room for a second company. Keil said Novocell will invest about $2 million in locating to LindenPointe. It's getting some government help, about $175,000 from the state's Ben Franklin Project and an additional $150,000 from the Penn-Northwest Development Corp., but is handling the rest of the cost on its own. Keil said the company expects to have $5 million in revenue in 2005 and $15 million within five years. Rendell said this visit was the first of that he hopes will be many to announce other projects and state aid for the area. Back to top Officials stop in at planned tech park The city is reviewing a land development plan for a second tenant in the park. By Harold Gwin Vindicator Sharon Bureau
In a Friday visit to the planned 117-acre technical park site on PA Route 18, they got a close-up look at some of that work. "Look at the location. A brand new highway right down here," Gruitza said as he looked toward nearby Route 18, which the state recently widened from two to five lanes. LindenPointe is a little over one mile from Interstate 80. Robbins praised Hermitage for stepping forward to take an active role in getting the park ready for development. Partnership The city is in partnership with KAKE Development Co. of Hermitage in the project. The key is that local involvement, Robbins said.
Gary Gulla, assistant city manager, said the work began in February and will be completed by Nov. 1. It includes building a mile of access roads, a mile of storm and sanitary sewers, sidewalks, paved walking trails and landscaping. The sanitary lines are done, and the storm sewers are 98% complete. Contractors are working on the access road, and separate contracts are financing the installation of water, electical and natural gas lines, he said. The park has one tenant so far - Regional Cardiology Associates - but a land development plan is in the works for a second tenant in the technology field, Gulla said. The deal hasn't been finalized but it could produce up to 40 jobs, he said. Robbins said LindenPointe is unique in that there are no other planned technical parks in this region of Pennsylvania. High technology companies want the infrastructure in place before they come in, he said. The state stands ready with more assistance in the form of state grant and loan programs as well as specialized job training funds that can help developments in the park, he said. Back to top Partnerships made tech park possible By Joe Pinchot Herald Staff Writer LindenPointe is a "model partnership project" with both public and private investment combining to build the technical business park in Hermitage, said Assistant City Manager Gary M. Gulla. Like just about every other construction project in Mercer County, work to build LindenPointe's infrastructure was delayed by the weather, but Gulla said the major work will be completed by Nov. 1, the hoped-for completion date. "We're really pushing to get the site ready," he said. "Up until a month ago, they were on schedule." Rudzik Construction of Struthers, Ohio, has already installed water and sewer lines. Work has begun on roads, but utility companies have not had a chance to install their services. Still, Gulla says he expects only landscaping and construction of a walking trail will be left to do on Nov. 1. "It will be a usable, functional site by then," he said. The city's partners are KAKE Development Inc., which initiated the project several years ago when Fred George bought the first new acres. All told, KAKE and the city owned 115 acres. The state also provided some of the funding for the infrastructure work, along with the city and KAKE. The total project amounts to about $2 million. State Sen. Robert D. Robbins, Salem Township, R-50th District, said the leadership of KAKE and the city was vital. "The most important thing is the local community," Robbins said Friday, as he visited the site with state Rep. Michael C. Gruitza of Hermitage, D-7th District. "There's a huge investment here in sewer and water." But that's what it takes to attract developers, he said, particularly those LindenPointe wants to cater to: the technology and research industries. "You don't need to be in Silicon Valley today," he said. "People have the chance today to go where they want to have the lifestyle they want to live." Gulla said he's excited about some of the companies that have inquired about LindenPointe, especially considering the site is not ready and marketing has been limited. The city has also talked about tinkering with zoning and offering tax abatements in part of the park. A public hearing will be held at 1 p.m. Monday in the city building to define a proposal for the tax-abatement area. LindenPointe's website, developed by intern Laura Slovesko, is www.lindenpointe.com. Back to top |
