State Rep. Frank Burns (D-Cambria) recently sent a letter to Sherwin-Williams CEO John Morikis, inviting him to tour the county and consider it as a location for a planned new global headquarters and research and development facility for the company.
“I would welcome the opportunity to showcase all that Cambria County has to offer, from its strong workforce and our recent designation of 375 acres as a Keystone Opportunity Zone,” Burns said. “That designation means we can offer substantial state and local tax incentives and offer flexibility to work with companies of any size who are interested in creating jobs in our region. This could be a great opportunity to help Sherwin-Williams in its quest for a new location for its global headquarters, its research and development facility, or both.”
The paint manufacturing company is considering multiple sites in Ohio and several other states to accommodate the expansion over the last several decades at its current location in Cleveland, Ohio.
Burns highlighted the county’s proximity to Ohio as a potential benefit to relocating there and has pledged to work with Sherwin-Williams and elected officials from both parties to secure a deal that benefits everyone involved.
“Having a company like Sherwin-Williams relocate to Cambria County would be a substantial boon to our region, and while the company isn’t slated to transition to a new location until 2023 at the earliest, when we see an opportunity that could be beneficial to our region, it’s time to strike while the iron is hot,” Burns said.