State loan could help add jobs at industrial park housing former Volkswagen, Sony plants

A state loan of $2.25 million could bring more than 100 new jobs to the RIDC Westmoreland industrial complex near New Stanton.

The low-interest loan from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority to the Regional Industrial Development Corporation of Southwestern Pennsylvania will help with a proposed $5.6 million renovation. The work would allow recently added tenant Intervala to expand its leased space from 136,500 square feet to about 220,000 square feet.

That expansion would coincide with the company’s anticipation of adding 140 jobs at the former Sony plant, going from about 210 employees to 350 over five years, according to state officials.

According to its website, Intervala manufactures printed circuit board assemblies, electromechanical systems and cable and harness assemblies for the defense, industrial, medical and transportation industries. Last December, it acquired Varitron Hudson and in April added Princeton Technology Corporation, both based in New Hampshire.

A water line break on Christmas Eve shut down work at Intervala’s former location at Keystone Commons, a facility in East Pittsburgh also operated by RIDC of Southwestern Pennsylvania, according to Tim White, the latter organization’s senior vice president of development.

“We helped them get up and get running,” White said of Intervala. “The place we could do it the fastest was RIDC Westmoreland. They’ve had some success there and they’re evaluating staying there on a longer term.”

A long-term lease has not been finalized, but “we are working toward that,” said Intervala CEO Teresa Huber.

Huber said the Westmoreland site offers more space than was available at the former East Pittsburgh location. “What we’re contemplating now is staying here on a long term, to give us additional space to grow and expand our business,” she said.

She said the company’s ability to serve customers across multiple industries has helped it weather the covid-19 pandemic.

“Because of our diversification across markets, we’ve been able to fare well during the pandemic,” Huber said. “It certainly is a continued challenge day to day. Our employees’ safety is number one for us, and maintaining a continuous supply of product to our customers. We’ve fared well with that.”

The state loan is for a 15-year term at an interest rate of 1.75%. White said RIDC is looking to tap additional resources to pay for the renovation. If all goes well, he said, construction could begin next year.

White said more than 1,200 people are employed among tenants at RIDC Westmoreland, located in East Huntingdon and Hempfield townships. Tenants include DNP IMS America, Cenveo, Westmoreland County Community College, Siemens and ARGO.