A coup for Kernville

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December 13, 2006

Businessman courted by other communities

Anonymous The Tribune-Democrat Wed Dec 13, 2006, 12:59 PM EST

Last week’s groundbreaking for the ITSI-Biosciences Science and Technology Innovation Center was yet another positive moment for Johnstown’s Kernville neighborhood and for the region as a whole.

President and CEO Richard Somiari joined a collection of local officials on a snowy afternoon to launch a project at 633 Napoleon St.

By July, Somiari will relocate his business from Richland Township to Kernville, setting up shop in a new $1.8 million, 12,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art building.

ITSI-Biosciences now has four employees, but Somiari said that would quickly grow to 20 at the new site.

“It’s very exciting,” Somiari said.

Yes, it is.

At first glance, it might look like Kernville’s gain is Richland’s loss. Somiari said that is not so.

The growing company was being courted by other communities. One suitor was in Maryland, near Johns Hopkins University.

Some other larger communities also would have welcomed ITSI-Biosciences, said Jim White, community and economic development director for the city of Johnstown.

“They were all offering him financial incentives to make the move,” White said. “Fortunately, we were able to talk him into staying in our community.”

The move has an added bonus of helping turn once-blighted properties into vibrant business locations.

ITSI-Biosciences will join Northrup Grumman in shifting operations to Kernville in order to grow and add jobs.

Northrup Grumman will be the first tenant of Conemaugh Health System’s Greater Johnstown Technology Park, just up the street at the former Sani-Dairy site.

There have been several other positive developments in Kernville. Drs. Komal and Jyothi Gella built their new office at Franklin and Dibert streets. The Greater Johnstown Water Authority’s new home is just up Franklin Street.

Add to that efforts to develop an artists’ community in Kernville, and a $950,000 project to rehabilitate and resell aging homes there, and it’s clear that Kernville is being revitalized.

That can only be a good thing for all of Greater Johnstown.

“These people are making huge investments and staying in our community,” White said. “They are showing that they believe in Johnstown and that Kernville is going to be a hub of something big.”

We wish Somiari and his company the best of luck in their new home.

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