Business growing near outlets
COOLSPRING TWP, Mercer County — Growth along Route 208 just west of the Prime Outlets is continuing, but the 79-80 Interstate Development Corporation wants to see more.
Tim Wachter, an Erie County attorney who is consulting with the IDC, spoke Friday at its annual meeting. He said there could be $3 billion of economic impact during the next 20 years if the area becomes fully developed.
“We're well on our way to achieving it,” Wachter told about 50 people at the Mercer County Career Center.
“This isn't just a Springfield Township issue. This is a regional issue,” Wachter said.
“What we're seeing is that we've got an economic engine here that's ready to grow,” Wachter said.
Economic analysis done last year showed that there are many proposed businesses to come in. Wachter said some businesses are moving in now.
A Candlewood Suites hotel is going in along Route 208 near the outlet mall. The Amish Peddler also will be moving to the area. Springfield Commons, a strip mall to be built on 60 acres next to the outlet mall, also is under way.
A TownePlace Suites by Marriot hotel is proposed for the area, and a Timber Creek Tap and Table brew pub is supposed to move in as well.
“These projects are in active development at this time,” Wachter said.
Off Route 258 in Liberty Township, a Living Treasures animal park is proposed on 140 acres. Wachter said that site was chosen because of the development potential on Route 208 and because of the number of people who already come there.
In 2013, there was $28 million in earnings from jobs in the township.
“This isn't just the outlet mall. This is every job,” Wachter said.
The earnings are distributed throughout the region, he said, including outside of the state.As the corridor continues to develop, Wachter said more jobs will be created and more earnings will come.If the area becomes fully developed, he said that the state will get $63 million in taxes during the next 20 years. Wachter said that fact could help to get state aid from Harrisburg for the development.“That's a good investment,” Wachter said.He said that construction alone is expected to generate $9.5 million in wages.If all this development occurs during the next two decades, he said there is expected to be 850 jobs, $105 million in economic impact and $34 million in additional tax revenue. He said the Grove City School District could get an additional $22.8 million in property taxes from the development.Wachter's presentation was a progress report from last year. At last year's meeting, there were discussions about water and sewer infrastructure issues along the corridor. Since then, Wachter said the IDC and local governing bodies have been working on these issues.“While we're moving at the speed of government, we're moving nonetheless,” Wachter said.He said the IDC did a study to look 20 years in the future to see what potential water and sewage needs will be.“We know that we need to grow out the system for 192,000 gallons a day,” Wachter said. “We're working toward obtaining that.”Engineers from the Buhl Community Water Co., which supplies water for part of the area, have been working on a water plant upgrade, costing about $750,000 to $1 million, to process another 100,000 gallons per day through the plant. The company also filled a second water tank that had not been filled before.“That gives another level of support and security to the water system,” Wachter said.The company also is looking to develop another water well.Since November, the water system has been maxed out.“Buhl doesn't have any more water to supply,” Wachter said.He said that some developers have been able to drill their own wells on-site. However, he said that the water system needs to grow to continue development.Municipalities have been working on an Act 537 plan, which is required by the state Department of Environmental Protection, to increase sewage capacity. Wachter said that the plan is expected to be completed in June or July, and then a final cost will be calculated.“We see that there is a great opportunity for development,” Wachter said. “We need more water and sewer in order to make that happen.”
