Deluzio Announces $100,000 to Support Workforce Development at Shippingport Industrial Park

CARNEGIE, PA — Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) announced that Beaver County Corporation for Economic Development is one of eight local government and non-profit organizations selected to receive $100,000 in funding and technical assistance toward repurposing existing energy facilities, equipment, and infrastructure. This grant will help develop the multi-hundred-acre Shippingport Industrial Park (the former Bruce Mansfield Power Plant site) to create a new epicenter for Beaver County and the greater Pittsburgh region, targeting the manufacturing, energy, construction, and transportation/warehousing sectors.    

“I am thrilled to announce this $100,000 grant to Beaver County Corporation for Economic Development to help revitalize our community’s energy assets and support great jobs in Western Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Deluzio. “The local initiatives funded through this program will help drive regional economic growth and technological innovation, leaning on our highly trained Western Pennsylvania workers. I am excited that this federal investment will grow new jobs and opportunities in areas like technology development and advanced manufacturing at the old Bruce Mansfield Power Plant site in Shippingport.” 

“When the Shippingport Industrial Park was the Bruce Mansfield Power Plant it had been a key economic generator for Beaver County,” said Lew Villotti, President of Beaver County Corporation for Economic Development. “With the Congressman’s support, and with the experience and expertise of our private sector partner and current facility owner the Frontier Group, this grant will help make this former power generating facility become not just an economic success story for Beaver County, but the entire Western Pennsylvania community.”   

The Capacity Building for Repurposing Energy Assets initiative will assist communities like Shippingport where a significant portion of the local economy has historically been supported by energy assets and accompanying equipment and infrastructure. This funding will help the communities build technical capacity and develop a workforce necessary to help revitalize energy systems, address environmental impacts, and tackle challenges associated with energy assets that have been retired, or are slated for retirement.

This effort advances the Department of Energy’s mission of minimizing environmental and climate impacts of energy systems and industrial processes, working to achieve net-zero emissions across our economy, all while prioritizing labor and community engagement. The Capacity Building for Repurposing Energy Assets initiative is providing these communities access to planning and other resources they need to develop a clean energy roadmap—giving them the chance to be active participants in crafting their own economic future. 

###