Westmoreland economic progress advertising and marketing director retires after a single past offer

Joe Sisley’s fingerprints are all around economic progress in Westmoreland County.

“Joe has bought or leased each and every home in Westmoreland County’s industrial park process,” explained Jason Rigone, executive director of the county’s Industrial Progress Corp.

There are a lot more than 170 organizations occupying 1,200 acres of land and — until the coronavirus pandemic — employing up to 10,000 employees in the county’s 18 industrial parks. Sisley, 66, of Hempfield, has been instrumental in it all. Following a 43-12 months job as the promoting director of the county’s economic enhancement company, Sisley is retiring at year’s conclude.

He was there when the county’s initially industrial park was developed in early 1980s and sealed the past offer of his very long profession this thirty day period with the sale of a 6.23 acre whole lot in Westmoreland Company & Analysis Park, in Washington Township and Upper Burrell, to WAB Associates LLC.

The firm signifies New Jersey-dependent Weiss-Aug Group, which strategies to construct a 60,000 sq. foot production facility with business office room in the park. Weiss-Aug Team is a recent tenant in the park with its JK Software operation, which expanded before this calendar year. Particulars of the new producing procedure ended up not disclosed but county officers said it is envisioned the company’s full work at the park to improve in excess of the future 3 to five yrs to 75, up from the present-day staff members of 25.

Westmoreland Business enterprise & Analysis Park was created in 1992 and now serves as household to 21 firms that use far more than 2,580 employees. It generates approximately $1.9 million in county and regional taxes every 12 months, county officials mentioned. Just a single large amount and about 3.6 acres at the park continue being unsold or leased.

In all, the county’s industrial park process generates about $7 million in property tax profits for the county.

Rigone explained the success of the county’s industrial park plan and the in the vicinity of completion of the Westmoreland Small business and Study Park is thanks in large portion to Sisley’s attempts.

“If you know persons who function in Westmoreland County and in the industrial parks, Joe’s probably experienced a hand in that,” Rigone claimed.

Sisley, a delicate-spoken man who generally seems to stay away from the spotlight, was honored by county commissioners earlier this thirty day period for his very long profession.

“It was type of a bait-and-switch. I went there contemplating an individual else was currently being acknowledged. It was a serious surprise,” Sisley reported.

Rigone called Sisley “the moral compass of our place of work,” and a guy whose operate ethic is unparalleled.

The most latest sale caps a successful yr for the financial growth business and for Sisley. Extra than 52 acres at a few industrial parks were offered in 2021.

In February, the WCIDC bought 19.92 acres at I-70 Industrial Park in South Huntington to Wyatt Inc., and in Oct finalized the sale of 25.9 acres at Commerce Crossing at Westmoreland to Al Neyer.

Watt Inc. has claimed it programs to make a 120,000 sq. foot facility and a 250,000 square foot distribution middle is envisioned to be built at the Commerce Crossing web page in Sewickley.

In August, the company leased additional than 55,000 square foot at the Jeannette Industrial Park to new tenant FC Meyer Packaging.

Leases for house at South Greensburg Commons and the Mt. Pleasant Glass Centre also have been leased earlier this yr and are predicted to aid 500 new and existing work opportunities when they get to comprehensive capability.

The achievement of the county’s industrial park technique and its worth to Westmoreland’s economic growth attempts is a stage of delight for Sisley.

“It indicates I was part of a amazing crew,” Sisley mentioned. “It suggests I did my job.”