Woodcraft Industries, Mercer County

"Woodcraft Industries is looking forward to becoming a valuable member of the Greenville Community and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We will bring jobs that offer competitive wage and benefit packages to the area. We appreciate the cooperation that has made our start-up in Pennsylvania possible, especially the assistance we received from the Commonwealth and the Greenville-Reynolds Development Corp."

- John Fitzpatrick, President/CEO

International Timber and Veneer, Mercer County

"International Timber and Veneer selected Mercer County because of its proximity to Pennsylvania's high quality hardwoods, its location at Interstates 79 and 80, and access to a multi-county labor pool."

- Scott Edwards, General Manager

Optical Filters, Crawford County

“We looked at three locations in the United States and chose Meadville for a number of reasons. Firstly, we were impressed with the diversity and standard of manufacturing skill in the area, which is key to our business and secondly the tremendous assistance from MAIC, who played a key role in our final decision. They were extremely professional, very helpful and able to facilitate meetings with the right people from other public and private bodies as well as coordinating our search for suitable business premises. On our many visits to the area, we also found that the openness and willingness of the private business community to help a prospective new manufacturer was somewhat unique and certainly added to its attractiveness."

- Michael Dent, Chairman

Brazilian Coffee Machines, Co., Erie County

“Brazillian Coffee Machines Co. has been in contact with the Northwest Commission for Economic Development through its representative office in Brazil since 2004. That’s when we were given the opportunity to market our automatic coffee machines in the USA.

We would not have been established in the USA without the support of the Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission. The Economic Development team was the key and foundation for the completion of our project in the Northern part of the State, in Erie, PA due to the fact that Erie offers the most industries with high technology in plastics injection, tool and die, vacuum forming and electronics.

We are not just talk. So, in July 2005, we opened our sales office headquartered in the city of Erie. Our plans for 2006 include the addition of a manufacturing plant in Erie, which will serve both the American and Canadian markets. Looking ahead, in 2007 we will manufacture digital coffee machines, digital pet feeding machines and automatic ice cream machines. Other projects, currently under research, will enter the market in 2008.

We appreciate the support the Northwest Commission has offered us through its staff, Directors and Managers.

- Robelius Moro, President

The area's excellent workforce is a major reason for locating in the Clarion area. "Tarkett's manufacturing plant is automated and high-tech and needs a specific type of workforce to handle the job." Located close to Interstate 80, the plant is within a day's drive of 40 to 50 percent of the population of North America. Montreal, New York, Chicago, Atlanta. Local supplies of hardwood chips are another plus. Most flooring is made from softwoods, and using only hardwoods at the local plant will pay off over time, as hardwood fiberboard is a superior product.

Taken all together - workforce, geography, raw materials - the Clarion County location is "the only place in North America that can meet all these requirements."

- Jean Desautels, Clarion Boards General Manager
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