Businesses have begun calling Columbia Borough for more information about its proposed light-industrial business park even though the borough has yet to purchase the land.
The borough recently unveiled a timeline that would have it buy in July the 58-acre former McGinness airfield property near Manor, South Ninth and South 12th streets. Plans are to develop about 40 acres into an innovation and technology campus. The rest of the space is expected to be used for a hiking trail through a nature preserve and a childrenâs playground.
Construction, which could begin in 2022, hinges on the borough council approving the purchase and development, which borough manager Mark Stivers has advanced as an investment in the future.
Commendable distribution of CARES Act funds to Lancaster County businesses [editorial] lancasteronline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lancasteronline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Amazon announced Tuesday it will expand its delivery operation here by opening a second delivery station in a sprawling, vacant distribution center along Route 283 near Mount Joy.
The worldâs largest online retailer said it will hire more than 100 people for full-time and part-time jobs in the 1156 Four Star Drive building. All of them will be paid at least $15 an hour and be eligible for benefits immediately.
In addition, âhundredsâ more will be hired by outside contractors to drive delivery vans to take packages from the Mount Joy facility to homes and businesses. Amazon spokesman Andre Woodson declined to say which areas will be served by the new station.
Beth Batheâs small business wouldnât have made it to 2021 without the grant she received from Lancaster County.
When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down businesses across the county a year ago, it put an end to in-person art classes at Batheâs Short Dog Studio in Ephrata. She also lost the ability to sell her own art at various festivals, which made up the bulk of her income.
âRent is $635 a month, and thereâs no way, and insurance, thereâs no way,â she said, talking about the bills that would have gone unpaid without the financial help. âAnd that would have hurt my landlord too, so itâs kind of a trickle-down thing.â