Apr 16, 2015 3 min read

The Washington County commissioners passed a resolution Thursday related to expansion – in two ways – at Starpointe business park in Smith and Hanover townships near Burgettstown.

HRP Holding Co., which plans to develop a lot on Todd Drive, has requested that the Washington County Industrial Development Authority increase the amount of its construction note to $3.2 million from the previous $2.56 million for precious metals and herbal products businesses because it has increased the square footage of its proposed building.

“Their original concept was a 25,500-square-foot building, but now I believe it is closer to 31,500 square feet,” wrote Dan Reitz, director of the Washington County Council on Economic Development, in response to an email inquiry.

Principal owners are Hasmukh and Abhishek Parekh. A call for comment was not returned. Public hearings on the matter were convened Jan. 6 and April 2 at the offices of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, Southpointe, according to the commissioners.

The commissioners recently adopted a resolution approving the sale of a little more than five acres of land in the Washington County Council on Economic Development’s Starpointe Business Park to HRP Metals LLC of Sewickley for $188,500 per acre for 2.9 acres.

The company is actually receiving 5.11 acres, which includes slopes that will remain green space.

The Parekh family also owns Komal Herbals Inc. of Robinson Township, Allegheny County, which also plans to move to Starpointe to consolidate both enterprises on property the family owns, according to its Washington County Industrial Development Authority application.

The companies employ six people, and, with the move to the newly constructed building in Starpointe, they hope to add nine to 12 jobs in the next two years.

Construction is to begin this spring, with completion targeted for the end of the year.

According to its website, High Reliability Precious Metals produces chemicals, powders, flakes, master alloys for sterling silver and karat gold and also creates custom products by request.

It refines and reprocesses gold, silver, platinum and other industrial products and has governments among its clients.

“We specialize in refining industrial waste, high or low in precious metals, including hazardous materials containing solvents and resins, electronic materials, used jewelry and everything from scrap to polishing sweeps,” the website states.

It supplies precious metal products for use in electronic, electric, defense, pharmaceutical, fertilizer and automotive industries.

The metals firm was formed in 1993, and 12 years later, Komal Herbals Inc. began manufacturing whole-herb foods and supplements in accordance with the Ayurvedic traditional medicine of India.

County Solicitor J. Lynn DeHaven said the county has no liability related to this project and the commissioners’ unanimous votes, but the Internal Revenue Service requires a resolution by elected officials in these types of transactions.