Cracker Plant (Pittsburgh, Aliquippa, Clairton: houses, neighborhoods, closing)

[GarlicBreath]

Shell got a couple options.

1) Build a new plant in the Keystone zone and hire people to work at the plant and spur the local economy
2) Don't build the plant there and leave the site empty for the next 1000 years and let the town turn into another Aliquippa


In hindsight maybe they, state, county and local bureaucrats, could have treated Horsehead a little better rather than forcing them to move to a right to work state.

[globalburgh]

Originally Posted by GarlicBreath

Shell got a couple options.

1) Build a new plant in the Keystone zone and hire people to work at the plant and spur the local economy
2) Don't build the plant there and leave the site empty for the next 1000 years and let the town turn into another Aliquippa


In hindsight maybe they, state, county and local bureaucrats, could have treated Horsehead a little better rather than forcing them to move to a right to work state.

I gather you don't read Site Selection magazine.

Top Competitive States, 2011 | Site Selection Online

Top Metros Of 2011: The Fast Track To No. 1 - A rapidly expanding economy propels Houston to the top spot among the nation

[Craziaskowboi]

Pennsylvania just did for Shell what Southern states do for foreign automakers. Unfortunately, too many Republicans these days don't understand the difference between capitalism and corporate welfare. (I say this as a registered Republican myself.) Listening to some of these politicians boast about their "business-friendly" track records is like listening to a prostitute tell you that she'll be the friendliest person you've ever met. Somewhere on Tom Corbett's desk is a box of condoms and a vat of K-Y Jelly.

[Clint.]

Originally Posted by Gnutella

Pennsylvania just did for Shell what Southern states do for foreign automakers. Unfortunately, too many Republicans these days don't understand the difference between capitalism and corporate welfare. (I say this as a registered Republican myself.) Listening to some of these politicians boast about their "business-friendly" track records is like listening to a prostitute tell you that she'll be the friendliest person you've ever met. Somewhere on Tom Corbett's desk is a box of condoms and a vat of K-Y Jelly.

Huge tax incentives can set dangerous precedents and do encourage corporate welfare by undermining the concept of paying taxes in the first place so that businesses come to demand special treatment (which many people are perfectly OK with). As long as certain states have no income taxes, exempt corporations from other taxes, etc., then it becomes a necessity for other states (like PA) to join in and offer the same enticements or risk losing out on new development or even keeping established companies.

It's a race to the bottom (or to the top, depending on one's perspective). Or, it could just be bluffing by the business...but many people tend to not want to take that bet. Politicians have no interest in creating the national regulations needed create a level playing field, and the world is becoming a smaller place.

[Geeo]

This is the way business is done now. Company pits one state against another, states cough up tax breaks, and the company takes the sweetest offer. It's capitalism at its finest. Everyone is doing it, even the southern states. I believe the giant Mercedes plant in Alabama had generous tax breaks, as did the car plants in Georgia and South Carolina.

I don't fault Shell - they're just going after the best offer from the Governor. This stuff is usually pretty bi-partisan as far as Dem or Reps making the offers.

[BrianTH]

The thing is we don't even know that the businesses in these cases are actually taking their best public incentives offer. They may well already know where they want to locate for other reasons, and are just creating the illusion of a bidding war to maximize the public incentives they can pile on top.

[globalburgh]

I doubt PA was able to sweeten the deal appreciably more than what Ohio and West Virginia were offering. Wherever the plant ended up would benefit all three states. In my opinion, PA drew the short straw. I also think that the plant was coming to PA regardless.

[jimmyev]

Originally Posted by GarlicBreath

Shell got a couple options.

1) Build a new plant in the Keystone zone and hire people to work at the plant and spur the local economy
2) Don't build the plant there and leave the site empty for the next 1000 years and let the town turn into another Aliquippa


In hindsight maybe they, state, county and local bureaucrats, could have treated Horsehead a little better rather than forcing them to move to a right to work state.

Here's your options:

1) Build the new plant and turn Monaca into a thriving community modeled on Braddock or Clairton
2) Don't build the plant and turn the town into an Aliquippa.
3) Skip Shell and get something like Westinghouse. Or some CMU spin-offs. Then Monaca could be a Cranberry with character.

[GarlicBreath]

Originally Posted by globalburgh

I gather you don't read Site Selection magazine.

Top Competitive States, 2011 | Site Selection Online

Top Metros Of 2011: The Fast Track To No. 1 - A rapidly expanding economy propels Houston to the top spot among the nation

How many multi-billion manufacturing projects going on in Pittsburgh?

[globalburgh]

Originally Posted by GarlicBreath

How many multi-billion manufacturing projects going on in Pittsburgh?

I don't know. I'm not sure why you are asking that question. But Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania are both in the top tier for corporate real estate projects. Right to work doesn't do squat. All the complaining about bureaucracy and high taxes is misinformed.