As part of an effort to keep technological jobs and workers in Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Ridge recently delivered $30 million to Penn State Erie. The money, taken from the state budget, will be used to build the new Research and Economic Development Center at Penn State's Erie campus.

"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 John Lilley, provost and dean at Penn State Erie.

The new center will accommodate Penn State Erie's School of Business and School of Engineering and Engineering Technology.

The construction of the new facility will allow Penn State Erie to offer instruction in information sciences and technology, a major that it previously had not been able to offer due to lack of technology. Penn State Erie was previously the only Penn State campus not offering the major.

"We make a powerful pledge to our talented young Pennsylvanians: 'Stay here. There's work here,'" Gov. Ridge said in a Dec. 28 speech to Penn State Erie administrators. "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."

Researchers from all area colleges, universities and companies will have access to the new facility.

"This is wonderful news for business and industry in northwestern Pennsylvania," said P.C. Roche, president and CEO of Erie Plastics and chair 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 previously received a grant of $176,000 from the General Electric Fund, based in Fairfield, Conn. The grant was designed to improve the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology by offering more programs and developing more integrated curriculum, which the new facility will allow Penn State Erie to do more readily.

In addition to housing the college's applied research centers, it will provide space for programs such as the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program, Ben Franklin Technology Partners and the Plastics Technology Deployment Center.

The 160,000 square-foot building has been in the planning for more than 10 years. The Erie Conference's Community Coalition rated the project of high priority in both 1996 and 1999.

The new center will be part of Knowledge Park, a 200-acre technology, research and commercial center located in Erie.

Construction began on the facility in August 1998, and it is currently home to Aalborg Industries, a research and development firm, and GE Transportation Systems' e-commerce business unit.

Penn State Erie is one of the largest of Penn State's Commonwealth Campuses, with 27 four-year degrees, six two-year degrees and two graduate degrees offered.