MAJOR MANUFACTURER TO BUILD IN BEIT SHEAN
from Cleveland Jewish News

Case Corp. broke ground Feb. 15 for a factory in Beit Shean that is the result of an ongoing partnership between the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Beit Shean city and regional governments and an Israeli businessman/philanthropist.

Case, a Fortune 500 international designer, manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, is building the plant in the Zvaim Industrial Park just outside Beit Shean in northern Israel. The factory will employ 350-400 people when it opens next year, and up to 800-1,000 people in the next five years.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Minister of Industry & Trade Ran Cohen participated in the historic groundbreaking. The ceremony was followed by one at the Cleveland House to acknowledge Federation's role in the industrial park's creation through its Partnership 2000 program. Cleveland House was dedicated in October as a central meeting place for community activities

"A key component of Partnership 2000 has been creating an atmosphere of cooperation between the city and region, which historically had little to do with each other," said Arthur J. Naparstek, chair of the Federation's Partnership 2000 Steering Committee. "As a result of our work, a shared vision of building community has evolved, and the mayors are now working together on a number of efforts."

Cleveland's participation in Partnership 2000 is funded by donors to Federation's annual Jewish Welfare Fund Appeal. It began in 1995 when Federation and the Beit Shean and regional governments joined in what was then a new initiative of the Jewish Agency for Israel.

Adar Aleph 5760 - February 2000