Businesses around the globe have easy access to information about available industrial and corporate office properties in Central Eastern Pennsylvania via the Internet, thanks to PP&L, Inc.

Long known for its comprehensive and highly successful economic development program, PP&L, Inc., has just launched an interactive Available Property Locator system on its Internet site.

Using a database with detailed information on nearly 800 industrial and corporate office sites and buildings, businesses around the world can explore their real estate location options in Central Eastern Pennsylvania.

"We've added the power of the Internet and the speed of 21st century communications to our award-winning economic development program," said Donna Buchheit, PP&L, Inc., manager of Economic Development.

Companies can search the PP&L, Inc., Available Property Locator by applying a number of factors including geographical area, property size, even ceiling height. The search engine then provides users a property list that meets the criteria they selected.

From that list, they can "drill down" to view details in color photos of the property, site or building plans, and important features such as rail access and distance from major highways.

"Helping companies find the right property for their needs is an important part of what we do," Buchheit said. "This tool enables us to reach out to present and future PP&L, Inc., customers. Our economic development specialists will follow up personally on every request we receive from anywhere in the world," she added.

PP&L, Inc., has been involved in economic and community development since its founding in the 1920s. The company works in partnership with state, regional and local economic development organizations to bring new jobs to the region.

The Internet property locator service joins PP&L, Inc.'s other economic development initiatives, including marketing and promotion assistance, a no-interest loan program for industrial site development, and scholarship aid for training and certification of local economic development professionals.

Over the past three years, PP&L, Inc., and its economic development partners have helped attract more than 60 new businesses to the region, including some from overseas. Those businesses have created nearly 7,000 new jobs.

"We realize that our business success is linked to the growth and prosperity of the communities we serve," Buchheit said. "Our Internet property locator service gives us a way to use today's advanced technology to compete for prospects in a way that focuses on their needs and the needs of the communities."