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Development
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Location

Somerset County, often referred to as the “Roof Garden of
Pennsylvania”, is situated on a high plateau of the Allegheny
Mountains in southwestern Pennsylvania. The county comprises
1,074 square miles and has some 80,023 people, according to the
2000 census.

On September 11, 2001, the county was thrust into international
spotlight as the place where United Flight 93 crashed in a field
near Shanksville when passengers thwarted terrorists’ attempt to
overtake the plane. Then again, less than a year later, international
attention was focused on Somerset County as nine miners were
rescued from a flooded mine in Quecreek.

Subsequently the County earned the designation “America’s
County” because of exemplary manner in which the people of the
area carried themselves during these two events of international
scope. 

TRANSPORTATION

The Pennsylvania Turnpike (I 70/76) is the primary interstate
highway serving Somerset County, crossing the middle of the
county and running east/west. There is a Turnpike interchange
into Somerset Borough, connecting to other primary corridors,
including US Route 30, the Lincoln Highway, which runs east and
west through the county, and US Route 219, which runs north
and south.

Distances to notable east coast cities are below:

 Pittsburgh – 65 miles
 Philadelphia – 238 miles
 Washington DC – 191 miles
 Baltimore – 180 miles
 Cleveland – 183 miles
 New York City – 321 miles
 Richmond – 302 miles

HOSPITALITY INTERCHANGE

Somerset County offers more than 1,300 hotel rooms, close to
400 condos, townhouses and numerous bed & breakfasts, with the
majority of these hotels located within one mile of the Turnpike
exchange. Nearly every mid-range and economy hotel is
represented. This large selection of hotels has helped with the
recent decisions by Ruby Tuesday and Starbucks, premier national
restaurants to build new stores near the Turnpike Interchange.

BUSINESS & MANUFACTURING
 
A wide variety of manufacturers are located in Somerset County:

-Fleetwood Folding Trailers
-Gilmour Manufacturing
-Sunrise Medical/DeVilbiss
-North American Hoganas
-Somerset Welding & Steel
-Highland Tank
-Clapper’s Industries
-CVS Warehouse
-Wheeler Bros. Industries

One noteworthy newcomer to Somerset County is North American
Hoganas, a global company headquartered in Hoganas, Sweden.
Hoganas has facilities in 6 countries on 4 continents and
manufactures 25 percent of the powdered metal used throughout
the world.

PBS Coals, Inc., the top producer in Somerset County,
is also one of the top five coal companies in Pennsylvania.

RECREATION

Recreation and tourism have played a powerful role in the
diversification of the economy of Somerset County.  Tourism
income to Somerset County represents nearly 4,000 jobs and over
$165 million in sales.  The county is home to two major ski resorts
plus Kooser, Laurel Hill and Laurel Ridge state parks.  Seven Springs
Mountain Resort is Pennsylvania's largest ski resort and conference
center complex.  The year round resort covers more than 5,500
acres of open area to ski.  It is Somerset County's number one
employer. 

Another destination is Hidden Valley Resort.  It has 16 downhill
slopes and cross-country trails spanning across the 2,000 acre
property.  Visitors to Somerset County can also enjoy kayaking,
golfing, hunting, fishing, biking, and hiking.

MEDICAL

Somerset County has three hospitals, located in Somerset, Windber,
and Meyersdale, respectively.  The largest, the Somerset Hospital
Center, is located in Somerset Borough, and has a new Outpatient
Diagnostic Center and a newly renovated main entrance.  The new
$8.3 million Diagnostic Center opened in July, 2003.  The hospital
has 183 licensed beds and there are 152 physicians either on staff
or affiliated with the hospital, which has 725 employees.

Windber Hospital, while somewhat smaller, has the benefit of the
adjoining Windber Research Institute.  WRI has established a close
working relationship with Walter Reed Hospital.  With one of the
largest tissue banks in the world, it has established itself as one of
the foremost breast cancer facilities internationally.

COST OF LIVING/LOCAL TAX RATES

Somerset County is an affordable place to live and do business. 
Relative to the national price index, living expenses are considerably
lower than in many areas nationwide.  In fact 78.5 percent of all
homes in Somerset County are affordably priced at $100,000 or less.

Somerset Township Real Estate Tax Rates are as follows:

    County                 9.08 mils
    Township/Boro       1.61 mils
    School                32.00 mils   
    Total                  42.69 mils

    Per Capita Tax     $10.00

    Occupation Tax    None

INCREASING ACTUAL VALUE

Somerset County has a program that benefits any building
improvements on the other 580+ acres of Somerset Business Park. 
Specifics can be found by contacting the Somerset County Assessment
Office at the number below.  However, in general, the program allows
for a reduction in the increased assessment for property improvements
during the first five years after the construction.  The reduction is
structured as follows: 

     Year 1        -      50% reduction
    Year 2        -      40% reduction
    Year 3        -      30% reduction
    Year 4        -      20% reduction
    Year 5        -      10% reduction

Somerset County Assessment Office
John Riley, Jr. - Chief Property Assessor
300 N. Center Avenue, Suite 440
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 445-1536

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CONTACT INFO:

888 STOYSTOWN ROAD
SOMERSET, PA 15501

PHONE:  814.279.0044
FAX:  814.445.7644
EMAIL:  larrymostoller@geigerdevelopmentcorp.com