Business and technology park planned for Colombia

A major economic development project is coming up in Lancaster County, Columbia. McGuinness Innovation Park on Manor Street was one of the winning applications for state money. “It could mean everything for Colombia,” said Mayor Leo Lutz.

The borough purchased the more than 50-acre property that was once McGuinness Airfield for approximately $1.5 million. This is huge for Colombia. It’s the last largest piece of undeveloped, developable land here in the Columbia Borough,” said city manager Mark Stivers. Community leaders had a plan in mind, and it took teamwork to put it together. The Economic Development Company applied for more than $8 million in grants and loans and won to build the park.

“It will be redeveloped into commercial businesses that will generate tax revenue for the borough,” said organization president Lisa Riggs. Since the land was home to an airfield, the vision is to focus on transportation. The Innovation Park will be developed as a hub for drone technology.”

The catalyst for all this has been the idea of ​​a Drone Technology Center where The use of drones could be upgraded in Pennsylvania. It will be a training center, further development for research, to learn how to do this, learn how to fly long distances and hopefully we can attract some other occupations.”

This is expected to create 114 jobs. There’s also hope. State Sen. Ryan Aument (R-36) helped push the project across the finish line.

“We’re seeing a resurgence. I think it’s going to spur further resurgence in Colombia,” he said. It will take at least another year before it is groundbreaking, and it may be at least five years before the business starts. For a park Eighteen acres will be set aside.

Columbia, Pa. ,