Regional collaboration key to attracting renowned aerospace company to build a state-of-the-art facility in Lehigh Valley Industrial Park VII in Bethlehem, officials say.

Recognizing the magnitude of the project and those responsible for its realization, a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Curtiss Wright Corporation facility was held Monday at Lehigh Valley Industrial Park VII.

The project, developed by J.G. Petrucci Co, Inc., represents a $25 million, state-of-the-art, national-class manufacturing and warehouse facility that will serve as a valuable asset to the City of Bethlehem and the entire Lehigh Valley. The planned 169,000 square foot facility will house at least 95 full-time employees over the next three years, where the company will house their engineered pump division.

Headquartered in Roseland, N.J., Curtiss-Wright has a long and distinguished history in the aerospace industry, with roots dating back to Orville and Wilbur Wright’s first flight in 1903, and Glenn Curtiss, the father of naval aviation. The company designs, manufacturers and overhauls products for motion control, flow control and provides several metal treatment services. The firm employs about 5,600 across the world.

“With total projects in excess of $25 million, we are investing heavily in the Lehigh Valley,” said Todd Schurra, general manager, Curtiss Wright Flow Control Company. “The site here in Bethlehem provided the perfect location for our technical refinements, but also allows us to locate centrally here in the Lehigh Valley. Curtiss Wright is thrilled to be here today and to be bringing our manufacturing, testing, warehouse and office facilities to Bethlehem. We hope this first step will translate into years of business success, professional growth for our employees, and continued strong relationship with the U.S. Navy.”

Founded in 1987, J.G. Petrucci is a full-service design and build specialist that owns and develops various industrial, office, health care, multi-family and other properties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The company is acknowledged as being a leader in providing clients with turn-key solutions and as the go-to design and build property specialists.

A myriad of federal, state and local officials that were responsible for helping the project come to fruition spoke Monday, including Don Cunningham, president and CEO of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation.

“We are fortunate in the Lehigh Valley, particularly right here in the City of Bethlehem and in Northampton County, to have the forces at work that we do to help land a company of the quality of the historical significance and economic development significance of Curtiss Wright,” said Cunningham. “Without the work of Jim Petrucci and his development company, we wouldn’t be here today. Their dogged pursuit in the process of land development has been second to none in the recent 20 year history of redevelopment of the Lehigh Valley….This is the type of development we want to see across the Lehigh Valley.”

“Today’s groundbreaking continues the positive momentum building in the Pennsylvania economy with global companies now looking at the commonwealth as a place to grow, thrive and create jobs,” said Governor Tom Corbett in a prepared statement. “Our partnership with Curtiss Wright and our local partners will result in a new manufacturing and warehouse facility in the Lehigh Valley that is going to bring construction jobs and 95 new, permanent jobs.”

Other officials who spoke at the event included Jim Petrucci, owner and president of J.G. Petrucci; John Callahan, mayor of the City of Bethlehem; Charles Dent, United States Congressman (R-15^th); Janet Smith, regional director, Governor Action’s Team; and Alicia Miller Karner, executive director, Northampton County Industrial Development Authority.