Southwark To Build 385,000-SF Industrial Facility

Southwark, which manufactures a variety of sheet metal products, is a family owned business founded here in 1946. It employs more than 400 people.

Of the $13.5-million cost, more than $1 million will be devoted to the purchase of machinery and equipment. The project will be funded by Southwark and by several programs offered by the state through Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp. (PIDC). The programs include Pennsylvania Industrial Development Corp. (PIDA) and the Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund.

The local Chamber of Commerce and the City's Commerce Dept. created PIDC, a non-profit organization to promote economic development and job growth, in 1958. In addition to managing a variety of federal and state programs that finance investments here, PIDC also provides financing programs and real estate products at below-market rates to businesses and developers throughout Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, Agusta Aerospace Corp., a Milan, Italy-based manufacturer of helicopters, is leasing approximately 15 acres adjacent to its current facility near Northeast Philadelphia Airport and plans to construct a 40,000-sf assembly building. The cost of the project is estimated at $7.1 million. A portion of the funding comes from PIDA and MELF, structured through PIDC.

Agusta built its current 75,000-sf office, assembly, and distribution facility and established US operations here in 1980. The manufacture of Agusta's A119 Koala helicopter will relocate from Milan to the new Philadelphia facility.