HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The inaugural C. Alan Walker Award for Public-Private Partnership was presented today to the Delaware County Council, Marcus Hook Borough and Trainer Borough, recognizing their support of state efforts to secure hundreds of jobs in the Philadelphia region.        

"Public and private partnerships are vital to the economic growth of the commonwealth," Department of Community and Economic Development Deputy Secretary Clyde "Champ" Holman said upon presenting the award. "I cannot think of a better example of county and local governments, and private industry working together to preserve jobs and open new doors to future economic growth."              

In 2011, Sunoco announced its intention to idle its Marcus Hook and Philadelphia refineries and shortly after, ConocoPhillips announced its refinery operations in Trainer Borough would be immediately closed.  The idling of these facilities would have resulted in the loss of more than 1,800 direct jobs, and more than 15,000 indirect jobs that relied on the active operation of the three southeast refineries.

For several months, the administration coordinated with federal, state and local officials to work with both ConocoPhillips and Delta Airlines' subsidiary, Monroe Energy, to facilitate a deal. In addition to state support of the project, Delaware County committed to contributing $1 million to extend a pipeline to connect directly to the Philadelphia International Airport.  Monroe Energy is now producing jet fuel at the facility and the majority of the workers have been rehired.

In a similar situation, the future of the Marcus Hook Industrial Complex was in question. Delaware County Council invested in an economic feasibility study to determine the potential options for reuse of the Sunoco Marcus Industrial Complex.  The study identified seven primary reuse options, five of which were energy based options. 

Through building a strong partnership, in July 2012, Braskem America announced its acquisition of the propylene splitter assets at Sunoco's Marcus Hook refinery. In late September 2012, Sunoco Logistics Partners announced it would move forward with Mariner East, a pipeline project to transport approximately 70,000 barrels per day of ethane and propane from western Pennsylvania to its Marcus Hook refinery. 

As a result of the Corbett Administration working in partnership with the Delaware County Council, and Marcus Hook and Trainer Boroughs, one of the two Delaware County refineries was purchased and is still in operation, while the second, the Marcus Hook refinery, is in the process of being divided and developed for reuse. 

"This venture will breathe new life back into the 100-year-old refinery and open the door to future development and job creation at the site," Holman said. "The credit goes to leadership – the leadership of Governor Corbett and the leadership of Delaware County, Marcus Hook, and Trainer, all working together in true partnership."

The C. Alan Walker Award for Public-Private Partnership is named after Secretary Walker due to his understanding of the importance of the relationship between public and private sectors, having served in both sectors for years. To learn more about the C. Alan Walker Award for Public-Private Partnership or other DCED programs, visit http://www.newPA.com.

Media Contact:  Steven Kratz, DCED, 717-783-1132

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development