HERMITAGE - A group of business leaders and civic leaders announced a new investment to attract economic investment in the Shenango Valley Tuesday afternoon.

U.S. Senator Dave McCormick was joined by state, county and local officials, as well as business and industry leaders, college and university presidents, labor representatives and regional stakeholders to announce "Power Northwest" at the Avalon Country Club in Hermitage.

Power Northwest includes 10 Pennsylvania counties, including Mercer and Lawrence Counties, and aims to provide a unified voice for existing economic development agencies and political leaders by supporting them.

According to a press release, the organization was created by business leaders Frank Mindincino and Frank Evans, who organized the group on behalf of those 10 counties that have yet to be included in a $92 billion energy and technology investment announced by Senator McCormick last summer.

"We know that when it comes to the economy, you cannot wait for your turn. You take it. That's why we're here today," Evans said.

Power Northwest President Bob Wilson says the counties that the organization will serve all have a wealth of resources.

"We have natural gas beneath our feet, we have power lines overhead, we have ample water, we have academic institutions that understand how to put ideas into action and we have a bounty of economic development agencies guided by men and women whose sole purpose in life is to see this region prosper," Wilson said.