The $39 million GlassWorks Business Park in Clarion, Clarion County, broke ground last week, launching a project that will convert a 28.5-acre brownfield site that formerly housed the Owens-Illinois Glass Plant into a seven-building compound.
The plant closed in 2010, after 105 years of operation, and was partially demolished two years later. The site requires extensive remediation. Work includes excavating, grading, and paving.
“This is a great example of a community turning a significant challenge – the closing of the glass plant in 2010 – into an opportunity for an economic driver for the entire region,” Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin said. “Governor Wolf is committed to ensuring Clarion and Pennsylvania as a whole is a great place for all residents to live and work, and this project supports critical job growth that will enable members of the Clarion community to work locally and continue to live in the place they have called home.”
The property is owned by the Clarion County Industrial Development Authority and Miles Brothers. DCED has committed a $1.03 million grant and a $4.3 low-interest loan to the project.
Once completed, the business park will have seven buildings suitable for office, warehouse, or light industrial use.