Governor Rendell Welcomes European Home Energy Efficiency Leader, 300-Plus New Jobs to Philadelphia Navy Yard

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today welcomed one of Europe's biggest home energy efficiency companies to its new home at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, saying the company expects to hire nearly 320 workers over the next three years as it expands on South Broad Street.

The Governor said the arrival of Mark Group, based in Leicester, United Kingdom, marks the latest positive development at the Navy Yard as it continues establishing itself as one of the nation's leading hubs for innovation in the clean energy and energy efficiency fields.

"Helping consumers reduce their energy use is one of the best things we can do to help people and employers save money while improving our environment," said Governor Rendell. "After all, the cheapest and cleanest energy is that which we don't use. We've made great strides in the past eight years to help energy users do that, but the work being done here at the energy innovation hub and by Mark Group will take those efforts to an entirely new level.

"Mark Group's decision to locate its U.S. headquarters here and become one of the first companies tied to the Department of Energy's energy innovation hub is an excellent partnership. Each complements the other and each offers a host of great opportunities for the other," the Governor said.

Since its founding in 1974, Mark Group has improved the energy efficiency of more than 2 million homes and the company says it installs more than 6,000 measures every week that help consumers save. The company's debut in Philadelphia follows its recent opening of an Australian headquarters.

The company picked the Navy Yard with the help of the Department of Community and Economic Development's international trade office, the Governor's Action Team, as well as the City of Philadelphia, Select Greater Philadelphia, TeamPA Foundation, and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp.

"The creation of alternative energy sources is key to America's economic future, and Greater Philadelphia is the nation's hub of energy efficiency research and development," said Mark Group U.S. CEO Jeff Bartos. "We are excited to launch our business from Philadelphia and to deliver energy efficiency upgrades to homes throughout the nation, and we thank the Rendell administration for the state's investment in our company."

The Governor's Action Team offered Mark Group a $3.28 million funding offer that includes a $2 million Pennsylvania Industrial Development loan, a $500,000 opportunity grant, a $638,000 job creation tax credit, and $143,550 from WEDnet, which is a workforce web portal that is devoted to advancing the training and education needs of workers and employers in Pennsylvania.

Since 2003, the Governor's Action Team, or GAT, has successfully completed 56 projects in Philadelphia County. The projects account for commitments of 7,342 new and 20,125 retained jobs. The commonwealth has offered more than $192 million in funding to these projects, which will leverage nearly $1.2 billion in additional investment.

Statewide since 2003, GAT has successfully completed 1,188 projects, representing commitments for 130,000 new jobs and 300,000 retained jobs. The commonwealth has offered more than $2.2 billion in funding to these projects, which will leverage more than $16 billion in additional investment.

For more information on the Governor's Action Team and Pennsylvania's economic development opportunities, visit www.newpa.com.

Media contacts:

Mark Shade, DCED; 717-783-1132

Michael Smith, Governor's Office; 717-783-1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor