Pennsylvania Gov. Ridge Delivers $30 Million for State-of-the-Art Research and Economic Development Center at Penn State Erie.

New Center and Knowledge Park Combine to Serve Both University and Community

Needs; Largest-Ever State Capital Investment in Erie County History

ERIE, Pa., Dec. 28 /PRNewswire/ --

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge today delivered $30 million -- the largest-ever state capital investment in Erie County history -- to build the Research and Economic Development Center (REDC) at Penn State Erie, allowing the college to combine the physical and intellectual resources of its two professional schools to create a powerful and catalytic regional asset for economic development.

Planning for this state-of-the-art center dates back more than 10 years, and construction was designated as a high priority by the Erie Conference's Community Coalition in 1996 and again in 1999.

"This vital investment will result in new, knowledge-based jobs in Northwestern Pennsylvania, and we are enormously grateful to Gov. Ridge for his leadership and support in funding this project," said Dr. John Lilley, Provost and Dean at Penn State Erie. "The REDC will be an outstanding regional resource with close ties to Knowledge Park at Penn State Erie, and it will provide support for a variety of collaborations with other colleges and universities in the region."

The 160,000 square-foot academic building will house Penn State Erie's School of Business and its School of Engineering and Engineering Technology. Through education and training programs and research and technology transfer projects, researchers from all of the region's colleges and universities, as well as company representatives, will have access to REDC facilities and specialized, high-tech equipment.

"Today we make a powerful pledge to our talented young Pennsylvanians: `Stay here -- because opportunity here abounds!'" Gov. Ridge said. "For too long, we've watched as our best and brightest have left Pennsylvania for opportunities that didn't exist here. But, today, those opportunities -- those good-paying jobs -- can be found right here at home.

"That's why I'm proud to support the Research and Economic Development Center -- so our students can find the kind of jobs they're looking for right here in Erie."

Also speaking at the ceremony was Celene Yanosko, a fourth-year student at Penn State Erie working on her degree in mechanical engineering.

"Thank you, Gov. Ridge, for providing this region with such a wonderful opportunity," Yanosko said. "This building, when combined with Knowledge Park, will bring students at all our local universities into contact with many companies that will use the facilities and the specialized high-technology equipment located here.

"I've learned so much through my work with GE. This new facility will create many similar opportunities for other students."

An Erie native, Yanosko already has benefited from partnerships with industry. Two years ago, she completed an internship with GE Transportation Systems in Erie, and last summer she worked as a GE intern in the Czech Republic. She is the recipient of many honors for scholarship and leadership. "We cannot afford to lose any more Celene Yanoskos," Gov. Ridge said. "The REDC and Knowledge Park will go a long way in keeping Celene and her talented counterparts right here in Pennsylvania."

Gov. Ridge noted that the creation of the REDC will allow Penn State Erie to offer Information Sciences and Technology (IST) programming to Northwestern Pennsylvania. Due to a lack of space, Penn State Erie is the only Penn State location not offering the popular IST program. The IST programming -- including computer engineering, computer science and software engineering -- would complement the programs at Gannon University, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Mercyhurst College and other higher-educational institutions in the region, providing a major locational attraction for information-technology businesses and services.

The teaching, research, and outreach activities housed in the REDC will support Knowledge Park at Penn State Erie, including attraction of future Knowledge Park tenants. Since its dedication in fall 1999, Knowledge Park has created more than 100 new jobs and retained 100 others for the region. The REDC will be on the east side of Jordan Road, adjacent to Knowledge Park. In October 1999, Gov. Ridge released $2 million for Knowledge Park, bringing the Commonwealth's commitment to the technology, research and commercial park to nearly $13 million.

The REDC will help create a model of integration for business and engineering learning environments. Penn State Erie already has received a $176,000 grant from the GE Fund to initiate this process. Integrating the efforts of the School of Business and the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology will enable graduates to operate more successfully within a small business enterprise and in a high-technology environment.

The building will house many of the college's applied research centers and provide space for programs such as the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, and the Plastics Technology Deployment Center. It also will include space to encourage and enhance faculty, staff and student entrepreneurship. Penn State Erie hopes to expand its support of specific industry clusters, such as metals-related, foundry- related and plastics-related manufacturers.

"This is wonderful news for business and industry in Northwestern Pennsylvania," said P.C. "Hoop" Roche, President and CEO of Erie Plastics and Chairman of Penn State Erie's Council of Fellows. "The REDC and Knowledge Park are the result of incredible cooperation among community partners, and it means our people will compete with increasing success in the global economy."

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, is committed to high-quality teaching, research, and service, with a special focus on advancing the economic and social welfare of Northwestern Pennsylvania. The college offers 27 four-year Penn State degrees, six two-year degrees and two graduate degrees -- a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Manufacturing Systems Engineering. Nearly 1,500 of its 3,800 students live on the college's 730- acre campus.

CONTACT: Steve Aaron, Deputy Press Sec. of the Pa. Office of the Governor, 717-783-1116.