The Rendell administration proudly announced 43 economic development projects on Friday that it claimed would create more than 2,000 jobs in three years. And it included helpful links in its news release to specify how it was spending $35 million. But when hackers from China brought down the state government's Web site on Friday you couldn’t learn that XL Capital Ltd. plans to move its 428 employees into a 140,000-square-foot building in Uwchlan Township and create 92 jobs. Or that Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc. intends to upgrade its 50,000-square-foot lab in Horsham to not only retain 27 people but also create 60 life-science jobs. For XL's $10 million project, Pennsylvania will provide the insurer with $684,000, which is composed of a $400,000 grant, $100,000 in job training funds and $184,000 in job-creation tax credits. Auxilium will get $255,000 for its $7 million expansion.
But the big winner locally was Exton-based Advanced Automation L.P., which will get a $2 million low-interest loan plus $300,000 in other funding to lease or buy a new headquarters. This Chester County information-technology company has 78 workers and says it would create at least 77 new jobs within three years.
Two other area companies received state assistance:
* RV Metal Fabricating Inc., a maker of sheet-metal components, will spend $455,000 to relocate from New Jersey to Hatboro. The state is supplying $363,000.
* The Star Group, the Cherry Hill marketing and communications company, will spend $923,000 to expand its Center City office. The state, which is providing $150,000, said the agency is leasing 22,000 square feet of office space, and it will create 67 jobs while retaining eight jobs.
