BEDFORD — Members of the Bedford County Development Association broke ground on a new pad-ready site at the Bedford County Business Park II on Friday morning, setting up the region for more “positive economic development,” according to board Chair Jeff Crist.

The site, located on Country Ridge Road near the Bedford County Airport and across the street from the upcoming 40-acre Bedford County Business Park III, will support up to a 27,000-square-foot building and attached parking lot once work is completed sometime in December.

Bedford County Commissioners Deb Baughman and J.R. Winck attended the event alongside Bedford Township Supervisor Chairman Gregory Crist, BCDA board members and a number of representatives of local elected officials.

Business Park II contains three separate lots, the first and third are already occupied by REI and BT Snacks.

The Business Park II project was supported by two grants, one through the Appalachian Regional Commission and the other awarded by the state Department of Economic and Community Development Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites pilot program.

BCDA President/CEO Jennifer Marsh cites strong support from federal, state and local partners as instrumental in bringing BCDA’s vision for Business Park II into reality.

She hopes that the new site — which will be prepped for a prospective tenant or tenants to begin construction immediately — will attract new businesses to Bedford County.

“We have a robust manufacturing sector in Bedford County, so we would not be surprised to see a manufacturer or something like that as who is going to use this space,” Marsh said.

Creating pad-ready sites like Lot II will streamline the process for any business looking to move into the area, she said.

Attracting outside investment

Earlier this week, BCDA hosted a group of 12 site selector professionals from both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh for a two-day event.

The 12 selectors were hosted by the Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa, treated to an upscale Italian dinner at LIFeSTYLE and taken on a tour around Bedford County, where they saw the ongoing work at Business Parks I, II and III, Marsh said.

DCED Secretary Rick Siger was one of the most high-profile attendees at the event, whose appearance represented the “close collaboration and partnership” between DCED and BCDA.

“The state is very much wanting to move things forward, they have that competitive spirit, and we share that,” Marsh said.

The event was designed to familiarize the selectors with the numerous business opportunities in the area and give them a taste of local hospitality, she said. “We were able to show them the ‘Bedford County advantage.'”

This includes the area’s proximity to major markets, its high quality of life and business-friendly atmosphere among local government leaders.

“It went really well,” Marsh said, adding that she was hopeful the visit would result in further investment in the region from leading companies from across Pennsylvania.

Marsh, who took over from longtime BCDA leader Bette Slayton in July, is looking forward to a productive period for the association.

“I’m looking forward to creating this great momentum that … (Slayton) created, I want to continue moving that forward,” Marsh said, “I want to create job opportunities for our residents and enhance the quality of life for our residents.”