Published: December 21, 2007 12:00 am      

First beams erected at tech park site

While Thursday’s installation of upright I-beams was another milestone in the creation of the Greater Johnstown Technology Park, the moment had special significance for Tom Kurtz.

The work means Kurtz, vice president for clinical services and special projects for Conemaugh Health System, is off the hook with Gov. Ed Rendell and U.S. Rep. John Murtha.

“The governor and Congressman Murtha have been telling us we needed to have something vertical by the end of the year,” Kurtz joked as workers with Century Steel Erectors moved long steel beams into place with a crane.

“Well, we made it.”

Murtha, D-Johnstown, who was at the steel-raising, called the tech park “a real plus for the area.”

The project at the former home of Sani-Dairy has been four years in the works. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in July, and foundation work began in October. Phase-one construction is to be completed by late 2008.

“It will be nice for the community to see something coming up out of the ground here after all this time,” Kurtz said. “And we’re right on schedule.

“We hope to have enough done for Showcase for Commerce (in May) that people can come over here and walk through the building,” he added.

Defense contractors Northrop-Grumman and MTS Technologies each will fill one floor of the three-story, $20 million facility.

Both have pledged to add jobs as they move in.

A third tenant is being sought.

The project is a joint effort between Conemaugh Enterprises, which is a subsidiary of Conemaugh Health System, and the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority.

“Half the community has been doubtful that this project would ever happen,” said Ron Repak, executive director of the redevelopment authority. “Today is clear, physical evidence that the tech park is under way.”