When Bethlehem Steel announced that they would be cutting their workforce by 4,700 jobs, several local business leaders — Louis G. Galliker, Daniel S. Glosser, Andrew J. Koban, Walter W. Krebs, Charles Kunkle, Jr., Howard M. Picking, Jr. and Frank J. Pasquerilla — stepped up to incorporate JARI as a regional economic development organization.

Highlights:

  • Attracted Metropolitan Life Insurance Company to the region
  • Developed the Johnstown Industrial Park, Johnstown Business Park and Quemahoning Industrial Park
  • Attracted Abex and later North American Hoganas to the Quemahoning Industrial Park
  • Developed the Main Street East Project
  • Facilitated the South Fork Wastewater facility
  • Created JARI’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center
  • In cooperation with the Greater Johnstown Chamber of Commerce, hosts the annual Showcase for Commerce, now in its 25th year
  • Constructed the JARI Center for Business Development, a 30,000 sf incubator facility
  • Administered the Johnstown Renaissance Project which involved the construction of the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center, the construction of the Intermodal Transportation Center and renovation of the Cambria County War Memorial Arena
  •  Attracted several international companies to the region including Martin-Baker America, Kitron, Kongsberg, Gamesa and North American Hoganas
  • Established JARI’s Workforce Development Program