JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – For 50 years, one organization has had a particularly unique impact on the Johnstown area.
The Johnstown Area Regional Industry attracted large employers, supported small businesses, and trained local workers for new jobs.
The nonprofit Economic Development Authority was founded in 1974 by a committee of local businessmen to diversify the region’s economy as the once-strong steel and coal industries faltered.
Since then, JARI has hired and retained international companies, trained thousands of workers, and funded startups that have grown to employ hundreds of people.
JARI on Thursday highlighted the organization’s impact with a short ceremony celebrating half a century of community service and honored longtime president Linda Thomson, who will retire at the end of June.
Mr. Thompson has been at the helm of the organization for 24 years.
200 people gathered at the Bottle Works event hall, 411 Third Avenue in Johnstown’s Cambria City neighborhood, for the 50th anniversary celebration.
Attendees included leaders from companies that have grown with JARI support, local, federal, and state government representatives and their spokespeople, and one of JARI’s founding members and former publisher of the Tribune-Democrat. Richard Mayer was also included.
Mr. Thompson addressed Mr. Mayer during his speech.
“The foresight and dedication you embodied at JARI lives on,” she said. “We are so proud to serve this community and honor the foundation you built 50 years ago. Your legacy continues through us every day.”
Mr. Thomson shared his thoughts on JARI’s work and his vision for the organization’s continued success.
“To highlight JARI’s work, we can say millions,” she said. “But in summary, JARI has always put our clients first. If we do what’s best for our clients, our clients will succeed and our region will succeed.”
Dave Zucco, director of government relations for Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace, spoke about JARI’s role in expanding international business in the region.
“I’m a lifelong Johnstown resident,” Zucco said. “Kongsberg is a Norway-based company and I am humbled and proud to be in my 19th year with the company. They are here because of the work of Linda Thomson and JARI. I can’t express how grateful I am to Linda and her team for getting our company here.”
Zucco said what many people may not know is that the Johnstown area has a large international presence.
“We have a British company, Martin-Baker, a Swedish company, North American Hoganas, two Norwegian companies, Kitron and Kongsberg, an Italian company, Leonardo DRS Technologies, and the recent addition, Danish company UXV. technology.”
Amy Nielsen, president of Kroyle Nielsen Therapeutic Associates in Johnstown, spoke about the organization’s financial support for small businesses.
Nielsen said her company started with one employee and now, 11 years later, employs more than 100 people and provides a variety of services including mental health, disability services and organizational development.
“This is exactly the power of JARI. JARI supports small businesses and provides resources so they can raise much-needed capital as they start their businesses,” she said.
JARI is certified by the American Small Business Association as a microlender and a community development financial institution that supports businesses with the JARI Growth Fund.
Over the past 10 years, JARI has helped small businesses disburse 287 loans totaling $7.8 million.
Jeff Stopko, president of AmeriServ Financial Bank and chairman of the JARI board, said this created 1,746 jobs in the region.
Ed Sheehan, president and CEO of Concurrent Technologies, spoke on behalf of Johnstown’s defense industry.
Showcase for Commerce was developed in partnership between JARI, Cumbria Regional Chamber of Commerce and the late John Murtha MP. This is an annual event that continues to bring federal officials and defense industry leaders from around the world to Johnstown to discuss national security and issues affecting national security. defense industry.
“JARI was and is a cohesive organization that has helped build the region’s defense industry,” said Sheehan. “To date, this showcase has generated more than $9 billion in contracts with regional businesses.”
He said more than 2,500 people are employed in the defense industry in the Johnstown area.
“Economists suggest that additional spin-off jobs will be created because of the work these companies do. For every defense job, three jobs will be created, for a total of nearly 10,000 jobs. The jobs will become part of the region’s defense industrial base,” he said. “I salute JARI and Linda and everyone who has worked with JARI over the past 50 years. We definitely want to see another 50 years.”
