PENNSYLVANIA Results of study to tell how industries compare

SHARON, Pa. -- A study revealing how northeastern Pennsylvania compares with the rest of the world in five key industrial areas will be released next week by the Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission.
The $44,000 examination of the plastics, hardwoods, machining, tooling and biomedical industries was financed with a grant from the state's Keystone Opportunity Zone program.
It was designed to analyze the region's industry and workforce competitiveness on a national and global level and was conducted by Carter Burgess of Phoenix, an internationally known architecture and engineering firm.
It will compare the region's existing industries in those five targeted areas with similar communities across the globe.
The study will be unveiled in a presentation to economic development, tourism and chamber of commerce entities at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Radisson Hotel on Pa. Route 18, just north of West Middlesex.
The goal is to use the information to create the most effective method of developing business prospects and gain an understanding of industry growth trends at the regional, national and global levels, said Emily Gill, public relations director for the commission.
The commission, based in Oil City, is a nonprofit economic development agency providing assistance to eight counties in northwestern Pennsylvania, including Mercer and Lawrence counties.