Hamburg area residents gathered at the Hamburg Area High School on Wednesday evening, Dec. 10, for an Economic Development Summit for Hamburg hosted by Our Town Foundation.
Residents filled the Large Group Instructional Room to hear presentations from representatives on three pending and major projects that will have an impact on local businesses, the economy and the area where they live.
“We felt that it was important for the public to hear about some of the possibilities that we have in our community,” said Steven Keifer, Hamburg Area School District Superintendent, member of the Board of Directors for OTF and part of the Economic Development Committee. He added that as an educator, he is also very interested in the local economy not only for the financial part of the school district, but also for the local job opportunities for Hamburg area graduates.
Presented on by representatives that are behind the projects were the plans for the Hamburg Logistics Park on the Perry Golf Course property by Key Development Group, future plans for the Esther Ludwig Farm by King Real Estate and a brief explanation of the restoration project for Fourth Street in Hamburg.
Facilitator for the evening was Pamela J. Shupp of Greater Reading Economic Partnership which she has been with for nine years.
“Our mission is to attract companies to Berks County and to grow companies here in Berks County,” she said.
Shupp also noted that the perception on technical education needs to change as there is a problem not just in this area but all over in which workforce skill sets cannot be matched with the jobs that are available.
“We also lack inventory,” she added. “We are very challenged right now and turning away companies that are looking to locate in Berks County because there is nowhere for them to go.”
She explained that many of the empty buildings and areas in the area cannot facilitate the needs of the companies and that it is important for the community to work together to keep jobs in the area and attract more.
James J. Clymer or Key Development Group spoke about the logistics park that right now has a proposed site plan of three large buildings. The park will focus on moving goods and the location is perfect with Route 61 and Interstates 78 and 81 easily accessible.
“Labor, community and quality of life,” he said separates this area from others.
Clymer’s partner, Matthew J. Clymer discussed the job creation part of the project which is expected to bring approximately 650 direct jobs to the area and indirectly 175 additional jobs.
“Businesses are going to see enhanced activity,” he said and explained that all traffic at the park will spread to the gas stations, restaurants, hotels and other businesses.
He also explained the big annual economic impact on the community with taxes and income spending that will go back into the community.
Mark Koch was at the meeting representing the municipal authority and explained that a PennWorks grant was given to the Shoemakersville Borough for water supply and wastewater. He explained that part of the reason the grant was given was because of the potential job creation that the park will bring to Perry Twp. and the surrounding area. Koch used Wolfe Dye & Bleach Works Inc. as an example of economic development that has come to the area.
Complementing the logistics park is a pending project that Jay H. King, Jr., of King’s Real Estate Group is planning to present in three to four months that will create a manufacturing and distribution center on a smaller scale.
“We are not competing with [Key Development], we’re complementing,” he said.
King is focused on bringing the jobs back to the area and having Hamburg be the “bustling town” that it once was.
“Things just happen. And I think that Hamburg can go back to what it was before. I think we can bring back the jobs,” said King. “We’re going to educate our children. If we don’t give them opportunities to stay here, they’re gonna go. They’re gonna go to different parts of this country.”
He continued, “Not only do we have to educate them, we have to give them opportunities.”
King also pointed out that there is not as much foot traffic to stores anymore. More and more people are having products shipped to their residences by using online shopping. Hence the need for distribution and manufacturing centers like these two projects.
“You’re hearing about what we consider to be local economic development. Two pretty different projects,” said Shupp pointing out that the logistics park will help attract new companies to Berks and that King’s plan will help keep businesses that are already here in Berks. “The citizen involvement that is here has been so critical to the success of keeping Hamburg Borough getting funds from the state and being able to have infrastructure projects like this.”
Keifer briefly talked about the restoration project that is set to being on Fourth Street in March. The project designer from PennDOT was unable to make the meeting but is willing to attend another public meeting if needed. All of Fourth Street from Route 61 to Interstate 78 will be redone starting with work on the drainage systems, followed by ramps and curves. Work will be starting at the southern end of the street. Contractors will have limited working hours. To avoid peak hours they will be working in ten hour shifts at night. More information will be given as the beginning of the project nears.
At the end of the presentations, residents were able to speak with the representatives and voice questions and concerns.
