Jobs in Pennsylvania Created by Nine Projects

Several new projects will help create hundreds of jobs in Pennsylvania.

Gov. Edward G. Rendell recently announced that nine new projects have been approved for $10.1 million in loans through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority. Those projects will create 640 jobs throughout Pennsylvania.

The PIDA provides capital for infrastructure acquisition, creation and renovation projects primarily for manufacturers, industrial developers, research and development firms, agricultural processors and employers looking to establish national or regional headquarters in the state.

“Even in the midst of this national economic recession, companies are looking to build, grow and create new job opportunities,” Rendell said. “We must continue to encourage businesses to grow here in the state and create jobs by providing companies with the vital investment capital they need.”

The projects include:

• Allegheny County - RIDC of Southwestern Pennsylvania will receive $1.9 million for a $4.7 million renovation project.
• Berks County - MRD Lumber Co. Inc. will receive $1.8 million for a new $4.5 million building, creating 24 jobs during the next three years.
• Cumberland County - Enginuity LLC will receive $288,100 to acquire and renovate an unoccupied building. The $960,458 project will retain 66 employees and create eight new jobs.
• Erie County - Great Lakes Automation Services Inc. will receive $360,000 to renovate an unoccupied building. The project will cost $938,000 and relocate 27 existing employees to the new facility.
• Erie County - Accuride Erie LP will receive $1.2 million ro renovate its existing facility. The $3 million project will retain 167 jobs and create 103 new positions.
• Lehigh County - Gillespie Printing Inc. will receive $330,000 to acquire and renovate an existing building. The $825,000 project will help relocate 18 existing employees.
• Mifflin County - First Quality Baby Products LLC will receive $2.3 million to construct a new manufacturing operation. The $9.7 million project will create 500 jobs during the next five years.
• Philadelphia County - Steven F. Kempf Building Material Co. will receive $1.5 million to acquire and renovate two existing buildings. The $3.7 million project will retain 47 employees and create five new jobs.
• Washington County - Washington County Industrial Development Corp. will receive $561,012 to construct a multi-occupancy building.

RI Summer Jobs for Youth

Several RI summer jobs will be created thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Gov. Donald L. Carcieri recently announced that the State of Rhode Island will use almost $4 million in federal funding to create up to 1,700 jobs for youth this summer. The program is aimed at youths 14 to 24-years old who are lacking basic literacy skills, have dropped out of school or are homeless, pregnant, criminal offenders or disabled.

A $2 million grant to the Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island will help create 900 jobs and another 800 jobs will be available to Providence and Cranston residents through a $1.9 million grant to Workforce Solutions.

The temporary jobs could help heal Rhode Island's wounded economy, which is among the worst in the nation. During April, the state's unemployment rate increased from 10.6 percent to 11.1 perccent.

Rhode Island's unemployment rate has increased every month since June 2007, when the unemployment rate was at 5 percent. The state had an unemployment rate of: 9.1 percent during November 2008, 9.4 percent during December 2008, 10.3 percent during January, 10.5 percent during February, 10.6 percent during March and 11.1 percent during April.

The state had a total non-farm employment of 464,700 workers during April, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 465,000 workers during March and a 4.1 percent decrease from last year.