| (03/01/07) - Akron, Ohio FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE)
today announced that it is finalizing plans to construct new buildings that may provide
more than 200,000 square-feet of office space and has the potential to house up to 700
employees on a site adjacent to its service facility in west Akron. "This project underscores our strong support for our hometown
of Akron, which has continually proven to be a great place for our people to live and
work," said Anthony J. Alexander, president and chief executive officer of
FirstEnergy. "Thanks to the support we have received from Mayor Plusquellic and his
economic development team, we are able to move forward with plans for our West Akron
Campus and consolidate a number of our operations. And, we are excited about this
opportunity to design a facility that will provide a state-of-the-art working environment
for our employees."
"As FirstEnergy has grown into one of the nations largest energy companies,
we always have taken great pride that its headquarters is a centerpiece of downtown Akron
and many of its operations have remained in our community," said Mayor Donald L.
Plusquellic. "The companys West Akron Campus, along with its presence downtown,
will continue to have a positive economic impact on Akron for many years to come,
including significant contributions to our communitys property and income tax
base."
The West Akron Campus eventually will house FirstEnergy Information Technology Group
employees and those from its FirstEnergy Solutions subsidiary. The buildings will be
located near White Pond Drive on the companys west Akron complex, approximately 150
acres bordered by West Market Street, Hawkins Avenue, Mull Avenue, Frank Boulevard, and
White Pond Drive. The complex already houses Ohio Edisons largest operations service
center in the Akron area, a FirstEnergy customer contact center, and other company
facilities.
The
initial ground breaking for the West Akron Campus project is scheduled to take place
during the second quarter of 2007, and it is anticipated that construction will be
completed in 2008.
FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company headquartered in Akron, Ohio. Its
subsidiaries and affiliates are involved in the generation, transmission and distribution
of electricity, as well as energy management and other energy-related services. Its seven
electric utility operating companies comprise the nations fifth largest
investor-owned electric system based on serving 4.5 million customers in Ohio,
Pennsylvania and New Jersey; and its generation subsidiaries control more than 14,000
megawatts of capacity.
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News Media Contact:
Ellen Raines
(330) 384-5808 |