WIDC to buy industrial park lots

February 18, 2009|By JENNIFER FITCH

ZULLINGER, Pa. - Having reached the 10-year anniversary of Wharf Road Industrial Park's creation, the Waynesboro Industrial Development Corp. (WIDC) is exercising its right under the original agreement to purchase the remaining lots at a discount.

Four lots totaling 54.1 acres remain for sale by WIDC in the 12-lot park, which is comprised of 121 acres of the former Bromley orchard. WIDC will purchase those lots from Michaels Development Corp. and continue to market them, Carlene Willhide said.

Willhide, as executive director of the Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce, serves as the industrial park's administrator.

The lots are being sold for a maximum price of $30,000 per acre, Realtor Matt Gunder said.

Willhide said the price and location are strong selling points for the park.

"It's close to Interstate 81," she said. "That, to me, is a no-brainer for industry."

CAM Superline Inc. operates in the industrial park. Greens Concrete has a lot under construction and Pro-Tube moved into a spec building originally constructed by the Franklin County (Pa.) Area Development Corp.

Encore Development and Nick Turano own lots, Willhide said. The Franklin County Business Complex is reselling a lot, she said.

Duvinage and Mitchell Machine split a lot, Willhide said.

Bruce Dreisbach, manager of Main Street Waynesboro Inc., said he feels the industrial park could draw new residents and shoppers to Waynesboro's downtown, which struggles with vacant storefronts.

"Our goal is not just to recruit businesses to Main Street. Our goal is to recruit economic and civic enhancement to the entire community," said Dreisbach, who joined the nonprofit organization last April.

He's ramping up business recruitment efforts by reaching out to out-of-area suppliers for existing industry such as Manitowoc Crane Group and Tyco Electronics. Also, he continues to talk to owners of 70 successful businesses in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington, D.C., in hopes of convincing them to move or open an alternate location.

Waynesboro can well serve biotechnology and military-related companies, Dreisbach said.

"What I'd like to see in Waynesboro is not a place for people to spend money, but also make good money," said Dreisbach, who recently released a 22-page brochure promoting the quality of life in Waynesboro. "Waynesboro, because of where we're located, is like the last undeveloped frontier between Baltimore and Harrisburg."

In 1999, former state Sen. Terry Punt, R-Franklin/Adams/York, secured a $900,000 grant that financed the infrastructure of Wharf Road Industrial Park.

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