Editing Ford City, Pennsylvania (section)

==History==
[[File:Ford City, Armstrong County Pennsylvania., 1896 LCCN2003681818.jpg|thumb|left|Ford City in 1896|309x309px]]

=== Founding ===
Ford City came into being from the plans of Captain [[John Baptiste Ford|John B. Ford]] (1811-1903), an industrialist interested in establishing a plate-glass industry. In prior endeavors, Ford had owned and operated, among many things, a river shipping line from which he drew his capital. The site upon which Ford City is located consisted roughly 460 acres broken primarily into three farms owned by Ross, Spencer and Graff families.

Ford’s explorations of the area prior to his land acquisitions had discovered the Allegheny River offered a unique asset in its composition. Besides the obvious advantage of low-cost shipping, the Allegheny River is a gravel-bottom river. Characteristics of this type of river were massive deposits of glacial sand, an essential element in the manufacture of glass. Also discovered in the area were huge deposits of natural gas, the fuel source required to fire the immense kilns used to melt the glass’s elements. Having secured his resources, all that Ford required to begin his venture was a very large labor force.

As legends tell, Ford sent agents to glassmaking towns all across Europe. From existing European glass enterprises, his agents quietly recruited experienced glassworkers. Offering a fair day’s wage and affordable housing, Ford’s agents were highly successful in getting the workers Ford needed. They were so successful that some towns in Europe were left nearly emptied of male adult glassworkers. An excellent example of this took place in Stolberg, Germany from which Ford recruited a large number of Ford City’s first glass-working immigrants. From [[Ireland]] and [[France]], Ford lured away men experienced in the supervision of glassworks. The early recruited foreman was offered an excellent wage and the promise of a house with marble-mantled fireplaces. These early workers also brought with them their various faiths in God, which manifested in many different Catholic churches of Ford City, including Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church; Christ Prince of Peace; and St. Francis DePaul.

=== Early History ===
In 1886, Ford City submitted and received its charter from the [[Pennsylvania|Commonwealth of Pennsylvania]]. One of the men who delivered the original charter to [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]] was Robert Naismith, brother of [[James Naismith]], the inventor of basketball. Previously part of [[Manor Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania|Manor Township]], Ford City Borough became one of the fastest-growing boroughs in the United States, gaining over 3,000 in population in only 10 years. Drawing workers and their families from over 35 identifiable European ethnic groups, Ford City became the quintessential example of America’s [[melting pot]]. Uniquely, Ford City never experienced racial or ethnic strife- Ford’s glass factory made all men equal.
Through the early 20th century, Ford’s company, Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company (now [[PPG Industries]]), became the leading manufacturer of glass in the entire world. Producing a better type of glass at a lesser price than its European competitors. PPG’s efficiency and product quality virtually ended the importation of European glass to the United States. As demand increased, the need for more laborers in the Ford City Works factory also increased. The town grew daily.

Through the early part of the 20th century, Ford City prospered. It touched every skyscraper of the United States in the glass that formed the exteriors of the magnificent structures. The common bond was found in the changing of the shifts at PPG and at the Friday-night basketball games. Ford City High School basketball has seemingly prospered the life of the town. Winning the section title was an annual event, and the teams amassed a [[Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League]] (WPIAL) record 34 section titles. It used to be said that every garage in every alley in Ford City had a basketball hoop attached to it. Boulder Park became a mecca of summer league basketball, drawing teams from as far away as Pittsburgh and New Castle.

In the early 1970’s, manufacturing changes at PPG caused a relocation of many of the town’s workers. This trend continued for 20 years, with the workforce gradually being reduced or transferred to PPG’s other plants. Finally, in 1992, PPG permanently closed its gates and began the demolition of portions of the Ford City Works, formerly the largest plate-glass factory in the world. As its peak, PPG employed over 4,000 workers. Its loss to Ford City was profound and deeply felt. To this day, the number of pensioned workers from PPG Ford City Works is greater than the total workforces of many of PPG’s existing operating facilities. The loss of PPG was economically devastating to the town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History – Ford City Borough |url=https://fordcityborough.org/sample-page/history/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=fordcityborough.org}}</ref>
In 1987 Natures Blend moved to a portion of the former factory. In 1989 it began manufacturing cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and framing for some of the area’s largest housing builders. By 1999, Nature’s Blend had grown in sales and product offerings, necessitating expansion. They doubled their production floor space to over 80,000 sq. ft. and invested in additional equipment. This expansion provided them with the means to process hardwoods from kiln-dried state to finished product, ready to install.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About – Natures Blend American Made Cabinets and Accessories |url=https://www.natures-blend.com/about/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |language=en-US}}</ref> 

In 1989, KPM, founded by Sam Kube and Albert Plekker in [[Greensburg, Pennsylvania]] in 1983, moved into the new company headquarters in Ford City, Pennsylvania in a small portion of the former plant. The presidents decide to specialize in the modernization of roll grinders in 1990. In 1999, KPM became part of the Herkules Group providing employment opportunities within the Borough.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Herkules |title=KPM – USA |url=https://www.herkules-machinetools.com/company/locations/kpm-usa/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=www.herkules-machinetools.com |language=en}}</ref>
Dallas-based Eljer had operated a facility in Ford City since 1918 when the company acquired a former pottery plant from PPG Industries and Ford City founder John B. Ford. The name "Eljer" was formed by founders Raymond Elmer Crane and Elmer Jerome Bacchus putting together the first few letters of their middle names. Today, American Standard, which merged with the well-known plumbing brands Eljer and [[Crane Plumbing Corporation|Crane]], is owned primarily by private equity firm [[Sun Capital Partners]], with private equity firm Bain Capital Partners Inc. holding a minority share. 

The Ford City plant had a long manufacturing history, but in prior years to its closing its work force had gradually decreased. About 20 years before, the plant employed around 700. By 2003, employment had fallen to 500, then to 300 in 2004. By early 2007, employment had fallen another 140. However, the Borough's situation worsened with the shutdown of the plant in 2008, further impacting local employment. <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tribliveoffers.com/welcome |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=www.tribliveoffers.com}}</ref>

=== Recent History ===
In more recent history, Ford City has attempted recovery from its economic collapse. In 2004, Ford City Community Development Corporation secured $12 million in funds to construct a 70,000-square-foot business incubator on the site of the former Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) factory. This initiative was part of the town’s broader revitalization efforts aimed at attracting new businesses and creating job opportunities. The project was designed to help stimulate economic growth and provide a space for startups and small businesses to thrive.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deto |first=Ryan |title=Like so many former Western Pennsylvania company towns, Ford City is in dire need of a comeback |url=https://www.pghcitypaper.com/news/like-so-many-former-western-pennsylvania-company-towns-ford-city-is-in-dire-need-of-a-comeback-3279621 |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Pittsburgh City Paper |language=en}}</ref>

The Community Development Corporation attracted as tenants a high-tech manufacturing company, Caracal, and a window-shade company, OEM Shades. But Caracal, which was fairly new, began experiencing financial problems and had trouble paying its rent. Without that income, the community-development corporation went bankrupt in 2008; Caracal followed in 2009, the same year the borough was forced to foreclose on the property. This led to the Borough being given a $580,000 fine by the U.S. [[Economic Development Administration]] for foreclosing on the property too soon, violating the EDA grant. This was soon after settled in 2016 when Borough Council authorized a $116,000 payment to the Economic Development Authority, paying the fine originally levied in 2015 and eliminating any connection to the business-incubator project.
In a turn of the tide, Belleflex Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Blair Strip Steel Company and manufacture of [[Belleville washer|Bellville]] Springs and other custom steel products, renovated and occupies a portion of the former PPG Plant used for the business incubator. In addition to their occupation, a second subsidiary PullFlex Technologies, an "American producer of [[Fibre-reinforced plastic|Fiberglass Reinforced Polymers]] focusing on specialty and custom designed applications like high strength-to-weight ratio composite materials, hybrid resin systems and custom woven and stitched material solutions"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Custom Resins, Fiberglass, Carbon Fiber by Pulflex Technologies |url=https://www.pulflex.com/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=PulFlex® Technologies |language=en-US}}</ref> renovated and now occupies an additional portion of the plant. 

=== Future Developments ===
Moving forward, the Borough is expected to see development of the former PPG [[Brownfield land|Brownfields]] in the Southern portion of town. In 2021, Borough Council voted to approve and authorize borough officials to execute an option agreement with the Armstrong County Industrial Development Council for a 120-day term and $1,000 consideration related to 30 acres of real property owned by the borough located along 2nd Avenue at the southern end of the borough adjacent to the river.<ref>{{Cite web |last=apanian@leadertimes.com |date=2021-09-15 |title=Ford City's 'Brownfields' section set to possibly blossom with job opportunities |url=https://www.leadertimes.com/front-page/ford-city-s-brownfields-section-set-to-possibly-blossom-with-job-opportunities/article_6d534f20-fea9-54f6-8bc3-523b804a2eec.html |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=leadertimes.com |language=en}}</ref> Soon after, a 10-acre portion was sold to Belleflex Technologies which neighbors the property. Additionally, a 20-acre portion was sold to Projectile Tube Cleaning Inc. of Manor Township. These businesses are expected to develop the currently vacant land bringing economic opportunities to the Borough. The Northern Brownfields are privately owned, with hopes of future development.