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WEB EXCLUSIVE
National Printing Organization Chooses Pittsburgh Region for Consolidation

The Pittsburgh Regional Alliance (PRA), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Allegheny County Department of Economic Development recently announced that the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation and Printing Industries of America (GATF/PIA) will consolidate operations in suburban Pittsburgh. The consolidation will retain 50 existing jobs and create 30 new jobs. The project also involves an $800,000 capital investment.

Pittsburgh edged out Waukesha, WI, the other finalist under consideration, as well as Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, St. Louis, and the Quad Cities (IL and IA).

GATF was established in 1924 to serve the graphic communications community as the leading resource for technical information and services through research and education. GATF consolidated with the PIA in 1999. PIA, founded in 1887, is the world's largest graphic arts trade association, representing an industry with more than 1.2 million employees. Together, GATF and PIA serve the interests of more than 13,000 member companies.

"GATF has become part of the technological fabric of Pittsburgh and has one of the most dedicated and talented staff teams in the country," says Michael Makin, President and Chief Executive Officer, GATF/PIA. "Our decision to remain in the Pittsburgh region has everything to do with the people of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the technology embodied in the region, and the commitment of various levels of government to help us realize our full potential. This decision by our national board, against formidable competition, guarantees we will not only maintain this technical talent in Pittsburgh, but build upon it with the consolidation with PIA."

"GATF is a company that has built a reputation for quality and sustained growth and we are excited and pleased that they have chosen to continue to grow in Pennsylvania," says Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Yablonsky. "GAFT/PIA's decision to consolidate operations in Pittsburgh speaks volumes about our talented workforce. And their decision to remain in Pennsylvania not only creates new jobs, it helps to solidify Pennsylvania's position as a world technology leader. The Governor Edward Rendell Administration is supportive of technology growth all over the state. And we will continue to support those who contribute to that growth."

The PRA, the economic development organization serving the 10-county Pittsburgh region, helped facilitate the GATF/PIA consolidation by conducting extensive research on local data and demographics, as well as the availability of incentive packages.

"As a worldwide leader in the printing industry, GATF/PIA will continue to have a measurable economic impact on our community through its multitude of services and programs, which benefit thousands of companies around the world," says Ronnie L. Bryant, CEcD, FM, President and Chief Operating Officer, PRA. "GATF/PIA also contributes a great deal to the growing prestige of the Pittsburgh region as a global center for education, innovation and technology in a wide variety of fields and practices. We are very pleased with the organization's decision to consolidate in Pittsburgh."

Among the factors that helped Pittsburgh retain the organization was the high quality of the existing workforce in the region.

"This consolidation has proven yet again that our region's workforce is an invaluable asset in our efforts to attract and retain business investment," says Jim Roddey, Chief Executive, Allegheny County. "In this case, the organization's existing Pittsburgh-based workforce maintains more than 800 years of combined experience in the printing industry. That level of knowledge and skills would have been very difficult to match anywhere else in the country. We thank GATF/PIA for recognizing the opportunities for success that our region presents."