Yahoo Finance Locals celebrate Steelite's expansion plans for Neshannock
Feb. 6—Lawrence County's elected and business officials are jubilant over an announcement Steelite International has chosen to expand and grow its existing operation in Neshannock Township.
After months of detailed planning and meetings with local and state officials, Steelite signed an agreement to purchase the 96-acre Millennium Park in Neshannock Township from the Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation. The purchase will allow the dishware manufacturer to develop and expand what it considers a "cutting edge" distribution facility on the property off Pulaski Road, according to a news release the company issued late Monday.
Information was unavailable Tuesday morning about how many new jobs the company's growth will bring, how many buildings will be constructed, the square footage of the new construction and the estimated project cost to the property between 154 Keystone Drive and King's Chapel Road.
The expansion will be in addition to the company's existing 250,000-square-foot warehousing and distribution center at 154 Keystone Drive and an existing 50,000-square-foot building at 360 Keystone Drive, both of which will continue to operate alongside the new facility. Those facilities currently employ a workforce of 176 employees, according to township tax records.
"This expansion is a testament to our commitment to our valued customers, dedicated employees, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and our Lawrence County community," said John Miles, President and CEO at Steelite International. "We anticipate that the construction of this building will be one of the most significant projects in Lawrence County over the past 65 years. We are confident that this state-of-the-art facility will not only enhance our operational efficiency but also will contribute to the region's economic growth."
LOCAL PERSEVERANCE
According to officials of Neshannock Township and Forward Lawrence — the umbrella organization over the Chamber of Commerce and Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation — the local officials have been working hard to welcome and keep Steelite as a flagship industry in the county.
Township Supervisor Leslie Bucci explained the township for the past few years has been trying to make the property more marketable to generate interest in the site that has been known as Millennium Park. The supervisors hired commercial real estate broker Lynn DeLorenzo, a principal at TARQUINcoRE of Pittsburgh, to market the property. DeLorenzo reached out to Steelite and involved a local marketing committee comprised of Bucci, Eric Karmecy and Frank Moses of Lawrence County Economic Development, and John Trant, a planner hired by Neshannock Township in the negotiations.
Neshannock Township hired Gateway Engineers to conduct appropriate environmental and geotechnical studies to show what could be done with the property, Bucci explained. The firm did conceptual drawings and geotechnical studies, and all of that information will be turned over to Steelite's team, Bucci explained. The purpose was to show the concepts of what could be done on that site, and the township paid for those studies.
The township and Neshannock Township School District also had the property appraised.
"It's been a longtime priority of Neshannock Township to develop Millennium Park," Bucci said. "It's been part of our comprehensive plan and our economic development advisory board to be able to see the plans come to fruition. Steelite investing in that site is going to help us see that happen."
The township also has a tax incentive program with the school district in the county, to offer a tax-exempt status on any new improvements through the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance program. The improvements to be made on the property will be tax-exempt for 10 years on anything above $25,000, Bucci said.
Steelite is one of the largest employers in Neshannock currently.
"Neshannock Township is thrilled that Steelite International sees the potential to expand in our community," Bucci said on behalf of all three township supervisors. "We are blessed in our township with great business partners, but we needed a champion to bring more to this area. I believe Steelite is that champion that Neshannock Township needed."
Ben Bush, executive director of Forward Lawrence, also expressed his pleasure at Steelite's decision to expand at its Lawrence County location.
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"When I first took over working with Neshannock and Steelite, it was the first big project I really got involved in," Bush said. "The leadership of Neshannock Township and a few members of my board members, Frank Moses and Eric Karmecy, were instrumental and critical in helping us move this forward."
He credited DeLorenzo for facilitating the sale.
"Neshannock's doing studies on-site to bring it to a higher level and Eric's and Frank's work to put the deal together were paramount to making this happen," he continued.
Bush explained Steelite received a state Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program grant of $3.5 million in October 2022, which will now be put toward this project. The grant went to the Lawrence County Economic Development Corp. with Steelite as the sub-grantee, he said.
"Steelite has been a fantastic employer throughout the county," Bush said. "It has made a significant economic investment already, and is planning to make a significant one moving forward."
"This is probably the best news for Lawrence County in years," Lawrence County Commissioner Dan Kennedy commented. "A lot of people have worked hard to get that done, and I don't think anybody's worked harder than Neshannock Township to drive it forward. Now we have to get Pulaski Road reconstructed to handle the traffic," he said.
At the township's urging, Kennedy is trying to get the road placed on the state's Transportation Improvement Program list as a priority. The thoroughfare is a state-maintained road.
"This is a start for the county to begin moving ahead. I really thank John Miles of Steelite," Kennedy said. "We really need to thank him for staying here in Lawrence County."
Commissioner Chairman Dan Vogler echoed those sentiments.
"This is good news for Lawrence County overall, and I'm encouraged by their decision to expand in our county," he said. "We've enjoyed a good working relationship with the company and we're hopeful that relationship will continue in the years ahead."
ABOUT STEELITE
Steelite International says it is continuing to collaborate with federal, state, county, and township officials on the permitting process. The company recognized key stakeholders — the Neshannock supervisors, Leslie Bucci, Chairman Stephen Demofonte, and Vice Chairman Joseph Gierlach; Gov. Shapiro's Administration including the Department of Community & Economic Development; State Senate Pro Tempore Kim Ward, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly; State Sen. Michele Brooks, State Reps. Marla Brown and Aaron Bernstine, the county commissioners; the economic development corporation; state Sens. Elder Vogel and Mike Fagan of Olsavsky, Jaminet Architects, for their unwavering support in securing the RACP grant and their work for the development of the newly purchased land, Steelite said in the news release.
The company looks forward to breaking ground on this project and further strengthening its position as a leader in the tableware industry, the release said.
Steelite sells its products in more than 50,000 end-user locations across 140 countries. The company manufactures products out of two facilities located in Stoke-On-Trent, United Kingdom, and Manlius, New York, totaling 600,000 square feet. The company operates 16 first-class showrooms around the globe, and sources products from 17 different countries.
Steelite's core brands include Steelite Distinction & Performance, William Edwards, D.W. Haber, Creations, Folio, Varick, Homer Laughlin, Hall China, Hollowick and Aspen Drinkware. In addition to its core brands, Steelite distributes such prominent brands as Pasabahce, Mogogo, Rona 5-Star Glass, Bormioli Rocco, Rene Ozorio, Robert Welch, Royal Porcelain, Robert Gordon Pottery, WNK, Anfora, Delfin, and Strahl.
