HORST GROUP COMPANIES BUILDING COLUMBIA COTTAGE IN HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVELOPMENT OF THIRD ASSISTED LIVING HOME

(January 11, 2000) Lancaster, PA The Horst Group is developing its third Columbia Cottage "just-like-home" assisted living facility in Hershey, PA. Patterned after the charming two-year-old Columbia Cottage homes in Collegeville and Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, the slightly larger new property will feature 53 residential units and a total of 30,400 square feet. The main house includes living and dining rooms, a cozy country kitchen and a library, all with the homey atmosphere of a getaway cottage.

Horst Property Management (formerly Clabell Management) senior care departments led by Jim Brandt is pleased to be developing this third Columbia Cottage property, a style considered to be in high demand for adults who need assistance with daily life care. The Hershey Cottage was designed by Horst Group affiliate Cornerstone Design-Architects. Construction is being led by Horst Construction’s project manager, Wayne Heisey, and superintendent, Dennis Fenstermacher.

Horst Excavating (formerly Bilran Excavating), Horst Masonry (formerly Modern Masonry) and Horst Painting (formerly Ash Painting) are all contributing to the building process. Horst Insurance (formerly Gingrich Stoudt Insurance) is providing insurance coverages. Horst Property Management’s senior care department which manages the two existing Columbia Cottages, will manage the Hershey Columbia Cottage when it opens. Horst Group president and CEO, Rick Watson, is "pleased that so many of our businesses are working together to make this project successful."

Construction status: Foundations are currently being set and wall framing will begin shortly thereafter.

The site is located in South Londonderry Township, Lebanon County, 103 North Larkspur Drive, Palmyra, PA, approximately 2 miles east of Hershey along route 322.

Contact information: For information about the construction project, please contact Bill Mullineaux at Horst Construction, (717) 581-9900 or wheisey@horstgroup.com. Inquiries about assisted living opportunities at any of the Columbia Cottage properties, should be directed to Jim Brandt of Horst Property Management at (717) 581-9850 or jbrandt@horstgroup.com.

Final Notes: A Fall 2000 opening is slated. An approximately 30 jobs will be created. The construction contract is for $2.7 million.

The Horst Group is a family of diversified construction, property management and insurance companies (Horst Construction, Horst Excavating, Horst Masonry, Horst Painting, Horst Property Management, Horst Insurance and Horst Financial Services), serving the mid-Atlantic region. Situated in Lancaster County, PennsylvaniaÕs Granite Run Corporate Center, the Horst Group has a tradition of service dating back to 1880. To contact the Horst Group, call (717) 581-9800 or visit www.horstgroup.com.

.For more information regarding this release, please contact Karen Haski, Communications Manager, Horst Group, call (717) 581-9817 or email to khaski@horstgroup.com

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