There are more than 170 companies from all over the country participating in the event, with more than 200 booths set up in and around the Cambria County War Memorial.

Exhibitors told WJAC they aren't going to let recent scrutiny from the national media keep them from bringing dollars and jobs to the area.

"There is scrutiny, but we are big boys," said Ed Nichols with Trident Systems. "We know how to work through it. The media can be good and it can be bad. We just want to show we can make things happen with the money we get."

Nichols was commenting on the recent media attention Congressman John Murtha has been getting when it comes to earmarks, the companies he helps and the the embattled Johnstown Cambria County Airport. The congressman even joked about it in his speech at Thursday night's opening reception.

"I went by to make sure the airport was still there," said Murtha.

Republicans call it the airport for no one and had attacked the amount of earmarks it gets. Both Congressman Murtha and exhibitors staunchly defended it's value to the region.

"With that airport we used earmarks to put in an highway access road," said Murtha. "The Galleria soon opened up, creating about 1,000 jobs. Then Lowes opened. Then Home Depot came in."

"The airport is critical to the military," said showcase chairman Dan Devos. "One of the reason DRS Technologies picked Johnstown was because of the airport. They could have their office right across the street for the executives to fly in from other locations."

Beyond the airport and the negative media attention, this year's showcase officials said has a feeling of hope and economic growth in a time where it's badly needed. Organizers said we can expect millions of dollars of contracts to come out of the event and that means the possibility of new jobs.

The showcase is open to the public on Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.