PENNSYLVANIA Lawrence Co. officials upbeat about capital visit

The leaders sought money for three projects.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County officials who traveled to Harrisburg earlier this week think they made some valuable contacts.
The contingent, which included New Castle Mayor Wayne Alexander and Lawrence County Commissioner Dan Vogler, met with elected officials from Lawrence and Mercer counties as well as key members of Gov. Ed Rendell's administration.
Vogler said the group focused on three projects within the county: New Castle's downtown revitalization, RiverView Commerce Park on Sampson Street and the proposed Millennium Park in Neshannock Township.
"This was a good day. I think we periodically need to do this," Vogler said.
He said state leaders were impressed with the unity of the group that also included Linda Nitch, director of Lawrence County Economic Development, and John DiMuccio, a private consultant working for New Castle.
Alexander said that during each visit, they showed a tape of downtown New Castle and the progress made since the revitalization started two years ago. He said they are seeking about $5 million more to finish the project.
The mayor said he's confident the state will give the city more funding to finish the project. He said the governor has indicated he wants to use New Castle's revitalization as a model for other cities of similar size.
Pleased with awareness
Vogler said he was pleased to meet with the members of Rendell's staff.
"I was afraid that the next level of bureaucracy in Harrisburg really wasn't all that familiar with us out here. Geographically, we sit on the edge of the state next to Ohio, and have less than 1 percent of the state's population," he said.
Vogler said those officials seemed to have a good working knowledge of the projects in Lawrence County.
Alexander agreed they appeared to understand what was going on and said members of the governor's staff are expected to visit New Castle in the next few weeks to look at the downtown project.
In addition to downtown New Castle, officials talked about RiverView Commerce Park, a brownfield site the economic development agency has been trying to develop.
Millennium Park, a proposed high-technology business park, was also reviewed. Officials have said a semiconductor company promising 2,000 jobs has shown interest in the site. Vogler noted that the semiconductor industry has experienced a downturn and that no expansion plans are in the works right now.
He said they are hoping to have the site ready when the industry revives.
cioffi@vindy.com