Govt. funds bring industrial park to area

The park, at 49th and Jefferson, will use tax credits to draw jobs and businesses to W. Philly. An estimated 2,000 new jobs, approximately 30 factories and businesses, and a retail area with supermarkets and restaurants may be coming to West Philadelphia within the next three years as part of a government-funded industrial park. The so-called "West Parkside" -- located on the site of an old Conrail freight park at 49th and Jefferson streets -- has received commitments from companies to fill almost 60 percent of the available space, according to city and state officials. But as of now, only three businesses have fully relocated to the park. "This will be a serious job producer, which is something West Philadelphia has been missing for a long time," said Anthony Palimore, a spokesperson for the project. Palimore added that at least 35 percent of the park's new employees will come from the West Philadelphia area. The project is overseen by the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, which purchased the 85-acre park in 1987. At the time, the site "in no way" resembled an industrial zone, according to PDIC Vice President for Construction Ed Duffy. "It was still a railroad yard," he said. "It had no roads or utilities and was covered with rail infrastructure." The first stages of the project involved extending 49th Street to connect with the park and developing 50th and Jefferson streets, both of which are located within the park itself, he explained. PDIC installed water, telephone and electric connections at the site. Companies on the site will also have access to pre-existing fiber-optic cables. The park was recently designated as part of both a state enterprise zone and a federal empowerment zone, further increasing its attractiveness to many companies by offering additional tax credits and financial incentives. Approximately 40 states received empowerment zone status when the program began in 1993. The 10-year grants allow each state to structure the programs they think will be most beneficial to their residents, Palimore explained. Pennsylvania has focused on improving industrial manufacturing and warehouse distribution facilities. As one of the city's four enterprise zones, PDIC officials said, businesses can expand their operations with low-interest financing and flexible terms, a 20 percent tax credit toward the cost of new capital investments and a 25 percent rebate toward the cost of adding new security measures. Being designated as an empowerment zone -- an honor the park received in 1994 -- gives the site additional tax credits. In addition, minority and entrepreneurial-owned businesses in the park will get access to federal loans. To receive any of those incentives, however, firms must commit to creating specific amounts of new jobs within the park. Additionally, the park as a whole must provide at least 15 new jobs per acre of land to continue to qualify for federal money. To be eligible for the investment tax credit, for example, businesses must create at least one job for a low-income individual per $15,000 of investment. Stephen Horton, who administers Philadelphia's four enterprise zones for the city's Chamber of Commerce, said the park is designed to give area residents a "sense of ownership" in the project through participation in the decision-making process. "We try to give people in the area opportunities to be involved with the project," he said. "There a lot of incredible and involved community leaders in this area." Horton expressed hope that the park would "help to turn around the area." "West Philadelphia has a lot of unique characteristics that make it -- potentially -- very attractive to businesses," he said. "In particular, it is incredibly located and has people with a sincere desire to improve things. "We're banging the drums to bring more businesses into the area," he said. "Mayor Rendell has spent significant amounts of money and energy trying to make this work." He added that the project might need two to three years more to "run at full throttle." "These things happen incrementally, but the slow and steady win the race," he said. "A large-scale project like often boils down to questions of time and commitment -- that's our challenge and responsibility."