Money Does Grow on Trees

Who said that money doesn’t grow on trees? Don’t tell that to Joe Hardy, the 81 year old founder and CEO of 84 Lumber. He started the 500+ store chain in 1956 naming it after Eighty Four, Pennsylvania where his first store was located and which still serves as company headquarters.

His youngest daughter now runs the company, but Joe isn’t the retiring type. He became a Fayette County commissioner in January, 2004 campaigning on a slogan that “Nothing is Impossible” and pledging to “bring good jobs to Fayette County.” And now he is delivering on that pledge.

In December he announced that he was going to use $5 million of his own money and would seek state assistance and $30 million in bank backing to create a new company that would fund entrepreneurs in the county. He will focus his efforts in manufacturing, fabrication and technology.

He also has developed the “George C. Marshall Plan II” for Uniontown, the county seat, to redevelop the downtown. George Marshall, the architect of the original Marshall Plan to revitalize devastated Europe after WW II, was raised in Uniontown. Since Hardy started the project he has purchased numerous buildings, spending millions of dollars to renovate them, and pledges to create at least 25 new businesses in the downtown area.

Hardy’s projects will be interesting ones to follow. Some towns get lucky when they grow entrepreneurs like him, returning money and ideas to the community.