A groundbreaking event for the Kyocera AVX electronic component company today, as the firm officially began construction on the their new Erie office.

"Kyocera AVX is a global leader in ceramics," said Keith Szewcyzk, Vice President and Senior Global Director of KAVX Crystals. "We do coarse crystal oscillators, precision timing devices that we've been doing for 90 years here with Bliley Technologies, now with KAVX."

Szewcyzk says they purchased the Erie-based Bliley Technologies last year, and hope to add over 100 new employees to their office. 

"So I think we're looking to grow over about 100 people plus and continue to go from there," added Szewcyzk.

Now, instead of moving the company elsewhere, they've not only chosen to stay in Erie, but expand their offices - with their new "North American Crystals and Manufacturing Design Facility" being built at Penn State Behrend's Knowledge Park.

"The heritage that we have, 90 year history really resonated with Kyocera, and really it was them doing the job of putting forth the new building, keeping us here in Erie, PA," continued Szewcyzk. "The work ethics that we have here in Erie, PA is another key reason."

And with the new office being located on Behrend's campus, Penn State Behrend Chancellor Ralph Ford is anticipating many students and graduates starting their careers with Kyocera.

"By coming here, that says that they want to work with the university," said Ford. "They want to tap into our talent pipeline, they want to tap into our faculty expertise, and the research capabilities of our university. Kyocera's already moved into Knowledge Park. Prior to that Bliley's been hiring our interns, that's been growing, that's going to accelerate. They'll be hiring not only interns but graduates. They've got a factory to fill here and they need talented people working here. So we absolutely expect that they will be hiring more of our graduates."