6 days ago
Johnstown companies awarded $256 million in military defense contracts
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — Three Johnstown manufacturing companies were awarded contracts from multiple military defense and commercial companies.
JWF Industries, Enterprise Ventures Corporation and Concurrent Technologies Corporation were given multiple contracts for manufacturing projects and advancements in military technology for nearly all branches of the military, resulting in $256 million. JWF accounted for $166 million while Enterprise Ventures and Concurrent Technologies footed the additional $90 million to the area.
'It allows us to take solutions that we developed for one branch, and we're able to share that with other branches to help them become more cost-effective and efficient,' President and CEO of Concurrent Technologies Ed Sheehan Jr. said.
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The announcement was made during a press conference on the third day of the Showcase for Commerce in Johnstown. Bred as a steel and coal town in the years prior, officials now see a chance to evolve.
'We're no longer dependent on two major industries like coal and steel,' Sheehan said. 'We depend on manufacturing capability, advanced manufacturing processes. We also count on financial institutions. Our health care industry is the largest employer in the region, but we also have universities and colleges. We also have a lot of other businesses that help the overall health of our economy. And so I think we're in a much better position today than we were 50 years ago.'
'There's a lot of veterans working in these companies, and those values are all there,' Linda Thomson, the president of JARI, said. 'So, it just makes sense that we are such a strong player in this marketplace.'
The contracts rolling in will not only add money to the area but opportunities for growth. Officials mentioned more jobs in the area, helping boost the economy and revitalize the area.
'It completely means retention of great talent,' Thomson said. 'How that we don't lose talent that's already here, and that we can attract additional talent to the region.'
'We're part of an ecosystem here in the region that allows other defense companies to continue to grow and benefit from the success that we heard today,' Sheehan said.
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