BERWICK — The Berwick Industrial Development Association — (BIDA) —has been a catalyst for growth in Berwick and beyond for many years.

BIDA is a 501(c)(6) designated non-profit, economic development organization, whose focus is improving the economy of the region through marketing and managing its industrial assets, the retention, expansion and recruitment of business and industry; and contributing to community revitalization efforts.

BIDA believes that in order for it to truly make a difference and stay in line with its mission statement, it must collaborate and engage in community development in order to improve the quality of life for all citizens in the North Central Pennsylvania region.

Currently, BIDA is the owner/operator of the BIDA Industrial Complex, one of the few industrial complexes located and woven into the actual borough of Berwick. The complex is truly in walking distance to the downtown, located in the center of a highly residential area. This makes getting to work and getting access to downtown restaurants, shops and more easy for the employees of our many businesses.

BIDA’s complex was originally the home of American Car and Foundry Co (ACF), where they manufactured tanker cars, the first all steel passenger car for the rail system and the infamous Stuart Tank in 1939. In 1962, BIDA purchased the complex from ACF, and a new era of industrial development began.

The industrial evolution started with the decline of locally owned and operated companies in Berwick selling their life’s work to national companies that took ownership, making them nationally recognized brands. However, it also lends for the challenge of now having to fill buildings with multiple companies that used to be home to one large business.

BIDA Complex is now home to a several businesses which differ in product lines and their workforce needs. The following companies call Berwick home:

What makes BIDA different than that of a traditional economic development organization is the relationships we have with our Complex resident businesses and those that do not reside directly in our complex. BIDA works with all industry sectors and can provide free needs assessments for the companies, access to financial incentive programs, access to other economic development partners that specialize in other areas of development/financing/strategic planning and even research and development of new product lines.

BIDA is tied in closely with the community development aspect. BIDA has a scholarship program for students in the Berwick Area School district; which includes Berwick students that attend the Columbia-Montour Vocational Technical School to cover costs of materials/equipment/books, etc. in the amount of $2,000/year. In order to encourage retention in post-secondary education, we release the funds for students by providing them with $500 for the first semester and then $500 for the second semester following proof of enrollment.

BIDA has donated, sponsored and contributed to many non-profit community based charities and volunteer groups throughout the Berwick Area School District geography and beyond.

Our largest in-kind gift, is the facility at our Eagle Building located in downtown Berwick that is utilized by Luzerne County Community College(LCCC). BIDA provides approximately 10,000 square feet to LCCC at no cost for Columbia County residents to receive the Luzerne County residential tuition rate.

When you think of BIDA, think of an organization that not only manages property, but cares for the people and the community that we belong to and that surrounds us.

For more information on BIDA you can visit their website at: www.bida.com or e-mail Kelly O’Brien, Executive Director at 570-752-3612, [email protected]

Our community, our region, our state and our nation are experiencing record low unemployment. There is a job for anyone that wants one and this trend is expected to continue.

Thanks to our reliable and affordable energy sources in PA, manufacturing is growing. Companies are beginning to re-shore and grow their businesses domestically. International companies are looking to locate here.

Going forward, skilled jobs and the trades will increasingly become more important. We will also see an increase in the need for experts in the healthcare field as baby boomers retire at an average rate of 10,000-plus per day.

As technology continues to grow faster than we can comprehend, there will be a strong demand for engineers, electricians, security experts, machinists and more. This will open up new opportunities in the fields of medicine and in current and existing jobs that will need to be filled.

Our region is home to more than 19 colleges, universities and trade schools — educating more than 40,000 students annually. This talent pool helps us to be more competitive when vying for a new company location.

We have also seen tremendous growth in the e-commerce/distribution space. Most consumers want products they order delivered by the next day. The “last mile” has become the industry standard. Due to our location and highway access, products can reach one-third of the US population and half of the Canadian population in one day.

Million-plus square foot distribution centers have become the norm. Currently there are eight buildings of 1 million square feet under construction. Most, if not all, will be purchased or leased within the next 6 months.

This level of competition has had a positive effect. The average starting salary in NEPA is now double the state’s minimum wage. Market conditions and not governmental regulations have allowed this to happen with no signs of slowing down.

We are fortunate to have a wonderful quality of life. From outdoor activities, sports teams, amazing entertainment venues and cultural institutions. Families can enjoy the seasonal offerings of our region from water parks and amusement parks to beautiful lakes, rivers, forests and trails.

Millions of people from around the country travel here to NEPA to enjoy what we have in our very own backyard.

There are many people that work behind the scenes on a daily basis to make our region even better than it is. From increasing wages and employment opportunities, to growing educational and entrepreneurial assets and improving our quality of life with new opportunities.

This “Industrial Park Series,” in partnership with the Times Leader, has allowed us to showcase the hundreds of companies and thousands of hard-working men and women who call Northeastern PA home.

At Penn’s Northeast, we have many members, community partners and agencies that share our mission to attract quality employers to Northeastern PA.

There are so many moving parts and hundreds of pieces of a puzzle that must fit in order to be successful.

MONROE COUNTY — Gov. Tom Wolf announced in September that All Weather Insulated Panels (AWIP) — a manufacturer of insulated metal panels — will expand its manufacturing operation in Monroe County.

“We welcome All Weather Insulated Panels to Pennsylvania and, specifically, to Monroe County,” said Gov. Wolf. “The investments being made in business expansion and job creation by the company and the commonwealth will impact both the local community and the local economy, and we look forward to continued investments in the years to come.”

AWIP must increase its insulated metal panel production capacity to better serve customers in Northeastern U.S. The project includes the purchase of an existing building in Stroud Township. The company has committed to investing at least $24 million into the project, and creating at least 70 new, full-time jobs over the next three years.

“All Weather Insulated Panels is very excited to have chosen Pennsylvania as the location for our third manufacturing facility in the U.S.,” said President of All Weather Insulated Panels, Natalia Rizzatti. “This location provides us with a strategic geographic position that will support our ambitious growth plans. A brand-new best in class continuous insulated metal panel production line combined with unparalleled processes and services will ensure we continue to provide the highest quality products and customer experience possible. We are thankful for the support Pennsylvania has provided us to this date and look forward to embarking on this exciting project together.”

AWIP received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development for the project. The proposal includes a $315,000 Pennsylvania First grant, $70,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits to be distributed upon creation of the new jobs, and a $78,000 workforce development grant to help the company train workers. The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team, an experienced group of economic development professionals who report directly to the Governor and work with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania, with additional coordination through the Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corporation (PMEDC).

“We are excited to welcome All Weather Insulated Panels to the Monroe County community and look forward to working with them closely as they establish their operations in East Stroudsburg. We appreciate the collaboration and assistance received from Penn’s Northeast, our regional economic development marketing organization, and the Governor’s Action Team. Stroud Township has also been very helpful and accommodating to the company and this has helped the process go very smoothly,” said Chuck Leonard, PMEDC Executive Director.

“All Weather Insulated Panels joins the growing list of companies that are realizing the benefits of moving to NEPA,” said Penn’s Northeast President/CEO, John Augustine. “Our strong and dedicated workforce, transportation infrastructure and low cost of doing business continues to be a driving factor in corporate relocation and expansion decisions. This project could not have happened without the support and teamwork of all of the partners involved. We wish All Weather Insulated Panels all the success in their future growth.”

Founded in California in 2006, AWIP is a leading manufacturer of insulated metal panels used in energy efficient building construction projects across North America.

SCRANTON — John T. Cognetti, CCIM, SIOR of Hinerfeld Commercial Real Estate, was recently recognized at the SIOR World Conference in Washington, D.C. for his 30-year membership in the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR).

SIOR is a Washington, DC-based international professional organization of more than 3,200 commercial real estate professionals whom have earned the coveted SIOR designation.

To achieve the SIOR designation, designees must complete at least five years of creditable experience in the highly specialized field of industrial/office real estate; meet stringent education requirements; and demonstrate professional ability, competency, ethical conduct, and personal integrity.

Individuals who hold the SIOR designation are top producers in the commercial real estate field and are represented in more than 685 cities in 36 countries around the world. SIOR enforces a strict code of ethics.

Cognetti has more than 40 years of commercial real estate experience-specializing in office, industrial, retail, land and adaptive reuse of properties. As President of Hinerfeld Commercial Real Estate, he is responsible for molding the Company and its people in a direction that creates growth while striving to provide competent, professional, and ethical commercial real estate services to the Region.

An SIOR member since 1989, Cognetti has served various on chapter committees and was honored to serve as treasurer for the Philadelphia Chapter of SIOR. Cognetti has further served the regional community as former Chairman of the Board of Penn’s Northeast and current Secretary of the Board of Directors of Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bank. He was instrumental in creating the standard real estate forms used by Realtors® in Pennsylvania.

The Hinerfeld Commercial Real Estate Company has as its primary market the northeastern corner of Pennsylvania. This covers a region bordered by the Southern Tier of New York State on the north, the Delaware River on the east, Lehigh Valley to the south and Central Pennsylvania on the west.

We are licensed in Pennsylvania and New York.This includes the counties of Pike, Wayne, Monroe, Susquehanna, Wyoming, Lackawanna and Luzerne.

A nationally recognized interstate system crosses the area in all directions providing overnight access to Canada and the Northeastern and the Mid-Atlantic regions of the US.

Two class one railroads, Canadian Pacific and Norfolk Southern, provide service to the region.Industrial activity is primarily concentrated in the Scranton-Pittston-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton corridor along I-81.

While this corridor has the largest workforce concentration, the surrounding communities in all directions of this corridor feed into this employment base.

Pittston is the geographic center of Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) and in the last 10 years has seen the largest amount of new industrial development consisting of logistics and distribution and an evolving office and call center base.

Our market knowledge of the where, what, how and why provides our clients with the best solutions for their commercial real estate requirement.

The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/NEP) creates and retains highly paid, sustainable jobs by investing in and linking northeast Pennsylvania companies with experts, universities, follow-on funding, and other resources to help them prosper through innovation.

2. supporting established manufacturers as they creatively apply new technology to help them succeed globally by producing better, less expensively, and faster.

3. promoting an innovative community-wide infrastructure that supports Pennsylvania’s business technology ecosystem.

As hundreds of companies have experienced, Ben Franklin delivers hands-on support, connections to critical resources, and investment funds at companies’ most vulnerable times.

American Paper Bag, LLC (APB), Wilkes-Barre, was selected as a finalist from seven competitors in Ben Franklin Venture Idol, held on Nov. 6.

American Paper Bag (APB) is the first to manufacture and sell an innovative new style of paper shopping bag and paper mailer in North America.

Produced with proprietary machinery, APB’s products are highly customizable (sealing strips, die cutting, etc.), provide operational cost savings (fit more bags on each pallet/truck), and are more environmentally friendly (use less paper) than traditional paper bags.

BFTP/NEP helps clients to achieve and sustain market success and competitive advantage. We are evaluated on the basis of the job creation, job retention, and commercial successes of our clients that are achieved as a result of our assistance.

• Capital — Ben Franklin takes calculated risks investing in young technology-based firms. We assist entrepreneurs as they prepare to raise additional capital and provide them with an important and well-respected initial endorsement.

We also support established manufacturers by providing investments to improve the client’s product or manufacturing process, employing innovation to their competitive advantage. The work is usually technology development or application-driven and is accomplished with a college or university partner.

• Business and Technical Expertise — Each company in the Ben Franklin portfolio benefits from the collective experience of seasoned professionals who focus on turning high-potential ideas into high-growth businesses. In-house expertise is complemented by the Ben Franklin Solutions Network of advisors, professional service providers, investors, and college and university experts. Members of the Solutions Network number more than 700, creating a powerful and comprehensive support program for clients.

• College and University Resources — We tap into the strength of Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities, whose faculty and students work directly with many of our clients. Ben Franklin

provides an essential link between client companies and the wealth of knowledge, equipment, facilities, and human resources in the Commonwealth’s higher education institutions.

• Infrastructure — BFTP/NEP staff partner with economic development colleagues to create and develop a comprehensive support system for early-stage technology-based companies and established manufacturers throughout northeastern Pennsylvania. For example, we apply more than 35 years of business incubation expertise in leading the 13-member Ben Franklin Business Incubator Network, which is among the largest in the nation.

The Ben Franklin Business Incubator Network includes The Carbondale Technology Transfer Center, The Greater Hazleton CAN BE, The Innovation Center @ Wilkes-Barre, The Allan P. Kirby Enterprise Center at Wilkes University, The Scranton Enterprise Center, The Stourbridge Incubator, and The TekRidge Center. Business incubation provides significant support to early-stage firms as they launch, and greatly improves the companies’ probabilities of success.

Since beginning operations in 1983, BFTP/NEP has helped to create 18,536 new jobs for Pennsylvania workers and to retain 37,328 existing jobs, to start 520 new companies, and to develop 1,935 new products and processes. Since 2007, BFTP/NEP clients have generated nearly $1.6 billion in follow-on funding. The Pennsylvania Ben Franklin Technology Partners network has returned $3.90 to the state treasury for every $1.00 invested in the program.

BFTP/NEP is part of a four-center economic development initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and is funded by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority.

For additional information, contact Ken Okrepkie, Ben Franklin Technology Partners Regional Manager, Pocono Northeast, kokrepkie@nep.benfranklin.org, 570-709-4040.

HAZLETON — Kevin O’Donnell, who has led Greater Hazleton’s economic development growth for more than four and a half decades, announced in July to the CAN DO Board of Directors that he will retire as President and Chief Executive Officer at the close of 2020.

In September, the CAN DO Board of Directors announced that Joseph Lettiere, a 19-year veteran of CAN DO, has been chosen to succeed O’Donnell as the head of the organization upon O’Donnell’s retirement.

Lettiere will become only the third paid CEO of CAN DO since its founding in 1956, following in the footsteps of Joseph Yenchko who served from 1963 until 1985 and O’Donnell who took over the top position upon Yenchko’s retirement.

O’Donnell’s name is one of the most recognizable names in economic development not only in Northeastern Pennsylvania but across the entire commonwealth. In fact, O’Donnell was recognized by his peers in 1984 as the first-ever “Economic Developer of the Year” by the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association.

O’Donnell started at CAN DO in 1973 as assistant director to Joe Yenchko, CAN DO’s first employee. He held that position until he was promoted to director in 1984. In 1995, the title was changed to president, a position he has held since.

As the leader of the economic development organization, O’Donnell has helped to bring regional, national and global companies to Greater Hazleton that have resulted in thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars annually for the local economy. In fact, more than 20,000 jobs have been created in Greater Hazleton, through CAN DO, since O’Donnell joined CAN DO.

During the past 35 years under his leadership, CAN DO has expanded or launched three industrial parks, Valmont, Humboldt and McAdoo; the CAN DO Corporate Center in Drums, and Humboldt Station, a commercial park located just off Interstate 81 at Route 924. Humboldt Industrial Park has become one of the largest industrial parks in Pennsylvania stretching five miles long and two and a half miles wide at its widest point.

CAN DO has been recognized for its innovation in economic development many times during O’Donnell’s tenure, most notably in 2007 when the organization was named “Large Agency of the Year” by the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association. In 1993, CAN DO received the Arthur D. Little Environmental Excellence in Economic Development Award, and in 2006 was awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Award from the U.S. Green Building Council.

In addition to being named Economic Developer of the Year, O’Donnell has received several other economic development-related awards including the Ben Franklin Innovation Award “Special Achievement” for his contribution to the creation of the Great Valley Technology Alliance (GVTA). In 2009, O’Donnell was inducted into the Northeastern Pennsylvania Business Hall of Fame.

Having conceived the idea for it in 1992, O’Donnell was one of the founders of the CAN DO Community Foundation, a charitable organization which supports worthwhile community projects with the ultimate goal of making a positive difference to the present and future well-being of the Hazleton area. Since its inception, the foundation has initiated and contributed to numerous worthwhile community improvement projects throughout the Greater Hazleton Area.

In his letter to CAN DO Board Chairman Bill Magnotta, O’Donnell said, “I have been privileged to work with hundreds of community volunteers that have served on the CAN DO Board of Directors and have served under 16 presidents and chairmen of the board over those years.

“I am very proud of the fact that our organization has reached financial sustainability without land sales and that we are able to branch out more into community development like we are doing in our downtown with the acquisition and exterior restoration of the former Remember When building, our commitment to the CAN DO Community Park, our involvement with the arts center and our role in the new downtown incubator.

“It has indeed been an amazing journey and I am so grateful to this organization for giving me the opportunity to be a part of it.”

Speaking on O’Donnell’s announcement, Magnotta said, “Kevin has been the face of CAN DO for the past 46 years and has been instrumental in growing the organization into what it is today. Kevin’s relationships, knowledge of CAN DO, and overall experience will leave a void and will be a loss for CAN DO and our community as a whole.

“While the Governance and Executive committees have been preparing for the eventual retirement of Kevin, it is still hard to fathom CAN DO being run by someone other than him. I can only hope to continue to see Kevin in some capacity after his retirement helping CAN DO and the place he calls home.”

Magnotta continued, “Under Kevin’s leadership, CAN DO has become a multi-faceted company managing water & sewer utilities, land development projects, industrial park management, real estate investment, a small business incubator and so much more while fulfilling its core mission of attracting both small and large businesses and bringing thousands of jobs to the Greater Hazleton Area over his career.”

During his time with CAN DO, O’Donnell has always been a supporter and advocate of regionalism, understanding the importance of joining with Hazleton’s neighboring communities in order to compete in a global economy.

He has been extremely active in promoting the growth and development of Northeastern Pennsylvania and has served the commonwealth in various positions. He is a past officer and current member of the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA), a member of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and a member of The International Business Innovation Association (INBIA). He is a member of the Northeast Economic Development Association (NEDA), and is active with the Manufacturers and Employers Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

He serves on the board of directors of TecBRIDGE, an offshoot of GVTA, and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA) and is an incorporator and past president of Penn’s Northeast, a regional economic development marketing group serving a seven-county region. He has also served on the advisory board for the Ben Franklin Partnership of Northeast Pennsylvania and was an advisor to Penn TAP, the Penn State Technical Assistance Program.

For more than 13 years, O’Donnell was a member of the Luzerne and Schuylkill County Workforce Investment Board (WIB) and represents CAN DO on the steering committee of the Hazleton Partners in Education (PIE).

In addition to his work with economic development, O’Donnell was also active in the community and received several awards for his work as a former officer and member of local educational institutions and community and civic groups. In honor of his extensive community involvement, O’Donnell was awarded the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Minsi Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Magnotta added, “Kevin will be leaving behind knowledgeable and dedicated CAN DO team members who are ready to step up to continue his legacy in making Greater Hazleton the place to live and raise a family.”

During an interview for the organization’s 50th anniversary in 2006, CAN DO’s founder Dr. Edgar L. Dessen spoke about O’Donnell. “I can’t believe lightning struck twice. First, we got Joe Yenchko and then we got Kevin O’Donnell. Kevin is one of the best economic development officials anywhere in the state and one of the best in the country.”

MILFORD — Davis R. Chant Realtors was founded in 1964 in Milford by Davis R. Chant, a local boy born in Port Jervis New York, who grew up in the Milford area.

Shortly after graduating from college Davis opened the door to Davis R. Chant Realtors that has five offices and 100 associates handling residential and commercial real estate in Eastern Pennsylvania, Northern New Jersey, Catskill Mountains, Hudson Valley of New York, and as well as being licensed in other states.

Shortly after opening the door for the first Davis R. Chant Realtors office in 1964, Peter Helms, who is another Milford boy, partnered up with Davis R. Chant and over the last half century they have actively been involved with commercial and residential real estate throughout the tri-state area.

Dave Chant and Pete Helms have built their business on building relationships with buyers and sellers throughout the tri-state area. Accordingly, the Chant team is highly focused on Eastern Pennsylvania, working diligently in all aspects of real estate.

Back in the 1970s and 80s, the Chant team put together deals for developers on more than 30 different projects for residential development in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

As the hospitality industry has grown rapidly over the last 20 years, Helms and Chant put together the transaction on the Mount Airy Casino Resort, Pocono Manor Resort, Kalahari Waterpark Resort, Mountain Laurel Performing Arts Center, and numerous other hospitality projects in Pike, Monroe, and Wayne counties.

Back in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Davis Chant was engaged by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to appraise the right of way for Interstate 84 throughout Pike County from the Delaware Rivers edge at Matamoras all the way across the county to a point where Interstate 84 goes into Wayne County.

Both Pete Helms and Dave Chant are confirmed that the Interstate Route 84 corridor is a great, great land of opportunity as it leaves New York State at Port Jervis, New York and moves across Pike County. Particularly, the Interchange of US Route 6 and Interstate-84 just West of Milford.

Both Chant and Helms are convinced that the Interstate 84 corridor in Pike County, and as well in the adjoining Wayne County all the way to Scranton, is truly the land of opportunity now and in coming years for business development both hospitality, manufacturing, and distribution.

If you are interested in the Interstate-84 corridor, give Dave Chant a call at the Milford Office 570-296-7717 or Pete Helms at the Hawley office 570-226-4518.

It is really amazing that the Interstate 84 corridor, an East/West 47-mile Interstate highway built in the 1970s has been so quiet, for almost 50 years – and now it is happening.

This 47-mile corridor begins just southeast of Scranton, at the intersection of Interstate 380 and just below the intersection with Interstate 380 and Interstate 81. From that point heading 47-miles east the topography at most all the intersections is relatively level and, in many cases, zoning has open arms for various commercial uses.

The eastern end of Interstate 84 where it crosses over from Matamoras, Pennsylvania into Orange County, New York and Sussex County, New Jersey, are also strong and growing commercial areas.

As one would move east in New York State, they would find great energy in the area of economical development, and this continues along the Interstate 84 corridor as you cross the Hudson River in New York State and move towards Connecticut.

One of the key things on the Interstate 84 corridor as it goes through Pennsylvania, is that potential developers of commercial properties near the interchanges of Interstate 84, find low real estate taxes, available work force, and areas of low cost of living.

All in all, Interstate 84 with easy access to other major interstates such as interstate 80, Interstate 81, Interstate 287, Interstate 380, and Route 17 in New York, makes this best kept secret now an area where Davis R. Chant Realtors, who have specialized in this market for over 55 years, would be pleased to introduce you to those interesting opportunities along the Interstate-84 corridor.

SCOTT TWP. — A joint venture announced between the Columbia County Industrial Development Authority (CCIDA) and DRIVE reveals all seven lots in the Columbia County Business Park have been sold.

In 2007, CCIDA and the Columbia Alliance for Economic Growth began the project with the goal of bringing jobs to the county.

“Job creation is at the heart of our mission,” said Nancy Marr, chair of CCIDA. “Providing a location for businesses to grow and expand in Columbia County, and offering employment opportunities for residents is our goal.”

“It became DRIVE’s responsibility to sell these parcels on behalf of the Joint Venture. We’ll continue to work with the property owners and market the Business Park until each lot is fully developed,” said Jennifer Wakeman, DRIVE’s Executive Director. “It is an ideal location for offices or light industrial space with its proximity to Interstate 80.”

Reaching this milestone in the Business Park’s growth is a moment worth celebrating, according to Vic Klein, chair of the Columbia Alliance.

“There were definitely some speed bumps along the way and a lot of hours put in by countless people to bring this park to fruition,: Klein said. “I’m just thrilled to see it reach this point with all the lots now sold.”

Currently, the Business Park is home to Fairfield Inn and Suites and construction is underway on Larry Frace Inspection Services’ Northeast Training Center as well as Forest & Field design center. Additional development is planned by Marr Development and Mariano Enterprises.

The 54-acre project in Scott Township was developed with assistance from the Economic Development Administration and Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development.

For more information, contact Jennifer Wakeman, Executive Director, at 570-284-4296, or visit www.driveindustry.com.

SEKISUI SPI continues to grow at their second location in South Centre Township. Their South Campus is home to several new polymer manufacturing lines as well as plastics recycler Ultra Poly. Plans for adding rail service to the facility in 2020 should allow for expansion of current lines as well as the addition of new products.

Blaschak Coal has begun a new mining project outside of Centralia. A former deep mine has been leased and developed for strip mining. A Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant (RACP) of $1 million is helping offset the $14 million investment Blaschak has already made the project. It is expected the mine will be in operation for the next 20-25 years as workers move west toward Mt. Carmel extracting anthracite and reclaiming the land as they progress.

In Hemlock Township, WebstrauntStore purchased 42 acres of land for their 500,000+ square foot warehouse and distribution center. With two $800,000 grants from the Governor’s Action Team, WebstrauntStore will create 400 new jobs over the next few years.

Construction is underway for Forest & Field design center as well as Northeast Training Center, an instructional institute for home inspectors.

A 40,000 square foot flex space building is expected to break ground in the spring and there is still room for three manufacturing buildings from 45,000 to 100,000 square feet.

Located just off the Lightstreet exit of Interstate 80 the Columbia County Business Park is an ideal spot for industrial development.

You can see many available properties in Columbia County by visiting the DRIVE website www.driveindustry.com.

This is due, in part, to the services available to Job Seekers, Businesses and our Youth through the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, Inc. and the PA CareerLink®. Their mission is to ensure a demand-driven, world-class workforce system aligned with economic development and education.

Due to ongoing technological innovations and the retirement of the baby boomer generation, America’s workforce is changing and is very different than it was a decade or two ago. Signs indicate that the labor force is not equipped with the skills for the present-day workplace.

With this in mind, the Luzerne/ Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board (L/S WIB) is working diligently to help local businesses meet workforce needs by supporting programs aimed at providing career awareness and occupational training to job seekers and students.

Through partnerships with local employers, Chambers of Commerce, and the Manufacturers and Employers Association, the L/S WIB actively promotes apprenticeship programs, internships, work experiences, and on-the-job training opportunities. By working closely with career and technical centers, and institutions of higher learning, the L/S WIB provides assistance in developing continuing education programs that are responsive to the needs of today’s businesses.

Since our most valuable asset is our young adults, the L/S WIB, through the PA CareerLink®, promotes career awareness to local school district students. These students have the opportunity to learn about local businesses, the economic outlook for the future, and how self-sustaining wages and a career pathway can be achieved in the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Area.

A priority of the L/S WIB is addressing the “skills gap” by supporting programs that encourage employers to invest in the talent pipeline and by educating job seekers and students about the skills needed for today’s workplace.

The PA CareerLink® is a resource for employers as well as job seekers. If you’re seeking employees, the PA CareerLink® can help you make the perfect match through its’ website available at www.pacareerlink.pa.gov. Through PA CareerLink®, employers can post jobs, view résumés of thousands of job candidates, pre-screen employees and research labor market data.

In addition, the PA CareerLink® will accept and review applications for your positions and even screen them with your qualification needs. If you choose, you can conduct interviews at the PA CareerLink® offices in Luzerne and Schuylkill counties and the Business Services team can arrange and manage appointments for your interviews. At any one time, there are hundreds of job seekers who are using the PA CareerLink® services and programs. Your next employee may already be registered with the PA CareerLink®.

If your business needs training for current or future employees, the PA CareerLink® can assist with that as well. They provide access to many skills-based training programs in addition to assistance with training funds. Also, the PA CareerLink® can connect you with a variety of development programs that will maximize your employees’ potential, including Incumbent Worker Training.

The PA CareerLink Team can also provide information on state and federally funded training and other cost saving programs like Rapid Response/Layoff aversion assistance, On-the-Job Training (OJT) Program and Industry/Sector Partnerships.

All our services are focused on providing skilled, qualified workers. Workforce services are delivered by the PA CareerLink® in Luzerne and Schuylkill counties through the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board. Many of our services are provided at no cost to you. Our highly trained, professional staff members will assist you in developing an employment and training program that is the right fit for your organization.

To learn more about all our money saving Business Services programs or for assistance with registering your company and posting your job openings on Pennsylvania’s internet-based website, please contact your local PA CareerLink® office.

Job seekers can search for jobs, create and upload resumes, track job search activities, get job recommendations, and sign up for free events on www.pacareerlink.pa.gov. After registering on the website, job seekers can get access to the Big Interview, Virtual Job Shadow, and cTorq (helps you identify your transferable skills). Veterans can match military skills and experience to civilian occupations.

Career Services are customized to meet your needs so you can accomplish your goals and include individual case management, aptitude and interest assessments, in-depth resume preparation, GED testing and classes, KeyTrain assessment/remediation, WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate, Individual Training Accounts (ITA) for qualifying job seekers, On-the-Job Training (OJT) and customized training programs, information on career pathways, work experience, Your Employability Skills (Y.E.S.) workshops, ServSafe Credential, and on site job fairs.

The PA CareerLink® also offers free workshops throughout the month including: How to Navigate PA CareerLink® online, PA CareerLink® Orientation, Writing an Effective Resume, Interviewing with Confidence, How to Land a Government Job, Career Exploration, and Financial Aid Workshops.

Visit the Career Resource Center to use computers with internet access for your job search needs. Get assistance with PA CareerLink® online registration, employment applications on PA CareerLink® online or other job search websites. Staff can even make copies or fax your resume or application.

Courtesy Unemployment Compensation phones and computers are available at every PA CareerLink® location. Staff can assist you with submitting information to Unemployment Compensation. Accommodations for individuals with disabilities, bilingual services, language translation, and TDD/TTY are also available at the PA CareerLink® offices.

PA CareerLink® offers Priority of Services for Veterans and Eligible Dependents through trained, qualified staff who provide individualized services including, but not limited to, referral to various veterans’ affairs agencies and programs, access to DD214 records, resume development, and job search and referral activities.

Visit one of our offices to learn about education and training programs offered by area community colleges, universities, trade and training schools. Funding may be available to assist eligible Adults, Dislocated Workers, and Youth obtain employment in high demand occupations.

L/S WIB Executive Director Patricia Lenahan urges businesses and job seekers alike to utilize the services of the PA CareerLink® stating, “We look forward to having an opportunity to assist you in your job search or business endeavor. To learn more about all our money saving job seeker and/or Business Services programs, please contact your local PA CareerLink® office.”

• The L/S WIB is responsible for administrative and fiscal oversight, contracting, chartering, and monitoring of all Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funded programs for one-stop centers activities and services offered at the PA CareerLink® sites in Luzerne and Schuylkill Counties.

Karen Kenderdine L/S WIB Chairperson; Vice President & Relationship Advisor Miners Bank, A Division of Mid Penn Bank

DURYEA — A 44-acre, tax-free, rail-served industrial parcel of land in Duryea Borough — destined to become the Duryea Industrial Park — is the last piece of land owned by the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce.

“After decades of building industrial parks likes Grimes, Quackenbush and Ohara, we are one land sale away from being out of the real estate business.” says Michelle Mikitish, Executive Vice President of the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce. “Getting out of the real estate business will allow us to focus our energies and our finances on member services, workforce development, small business needs and our ever-growing women’s network.”

The land is accessible via Boylan Drive in Duryea, which intersects with McAlpine St just behind Marie’s Diner. The Chamber purchased the land in February of 1966 from the Pennsylvania Coal Company and completed infrastructure improvements in the early 2000’s. This was the Pittston Chamber’s last land development project. The parcel can accommodate up to a 400,000 square foot building, has rail service and all of the necessary utilities in place.

This business park would be a great site for manufacturing, distribution, or other industrial operation. Just two hours from New York City and Philadelphia, it is a perfect location for any business looking to expand into northeastern Pennsylvania. This parcel is also a designated Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ) granting eligible companies significant tax savings until December of 2025.

• Rail service from two short line railroads with connections to Class I railroads Norfolk Southern Railway Company and Canadian Pacific Railway

For more information on this land parcel, visit http://mericlereadytogo.com/DuryeaKOZ/property-overview/

• PA Sales Tax on the purchase of taxable property or services (excluding motor vehicles) that are used and consumed by a business in the zone

• PA Sales Tax on “building machinery and equipment” purchased by a contractor in conjunction with a construction contract

A business moving from outside Pennsylvania into a KOZ is program-eligible provided it owns or leases property in the KOZ from which it actively conducts a trade, profession or business and obtains annual certification from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development.

Pennsylvania companies must meet certain job creation and/or capital investment requirements in order to be eligible.

For more information about Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development’s KOZ program, visit https://dced.pa.gov/programs/keystone-opportunity-zones-kozs/

PITTSTON — On a sunny June afternoon, three major cogs turning the wheels of the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce’s successes reflected on the first 99 years of the organization’s existence.

Former Executive Vice President Rosemary Dessoye and erstwhile project engineer Walter Poplawski, of A + E Group, Inc., traded tales from the past, while current Executive Vice President Michelle Mikitish shared her vision of the future.

The Greater Pittston Chamber was incorporated on June 20, 1920, and next summer marks a huge milestone for the organization. Many of the chamber’s wins stemmed from the creation of the region’s four prominent business parks — Barnum, Grimes, O’Hara and Quackenbush — and one residential development.

As the next century of growth and development kicks off, Mikitish presented the Chamber’s four-fold plan aimed at mirroring the progress of the past 100 years.

Both Dessoye and Poplawski firmly agreed that it would be impossible to define the chamber’s past victories without highlighting the efforts of the late John “Jack” Grimes. Grimes served as the chamber’s EVP for about two decades beginning in the 1980s, and his colorful approach to deal-making helped lure many employers — both large and small — to the Greater Pittston area.

Dessoye said a major factor in convincing companies to set up shop locally was Grimes’ ability to quickly slice through red tape. She recalled a time in 1969 when Grimes initially pitched a German executive on an undeveloped site in Duryea.

For the following five decades, that tract of land has been home to the current Schott glass manufacturing plant — the first of five more to follow in the United States. That day, Grimes shared a post-meeting handshake with the company’s liaison. The next day, excavation for the new production facility began — a feat unimaginable in 2019.

Poplawski, recruited by Grimes, added that in the 1980s, Pittston Township’s Eastern Distribution Center and the adjacent Vogelbacher Industrial Park caused some logistical confusion among suppliers and delivery personnel. When the decision to consolidate the parks came down, renaming the new entity after Grimes — whose unconventional prospecting efforts created more than 5,000 local jobs — was a no-brainer.

The Grimes Industrial Park now stands as one of the four mainstays of the Greater Pittston Chamber’s economic development endeavors. The following snapshots profile that park, a housing development and two other industrial zones within the Greater Pittston confines.

In 1896, the Barnum & Bailey Circus toured the country featuring a “horseless carriage” known as the Duryea motor wagon, one of the first gasoline-powered automobiles produced in the United States.

Any perceived connection between “the greatest show on Earth” and the Barnum parcel that became Duryea Borough’s Blueberry Hill development is purely coincidental, however. The residential development sits on the former site of the Barnum anthracite coal mine and colliery that operated from 1879 until 1964 and adjacent to the Barnum Industrial Park.

The borough itself was named after a former Civil War general who owned land along the shores of the Lackawanna and Susquehanna rivers in the late 1800s.

After Hurricane Agnes wreaked havoc on Northeastern Pennsylvania in 1972, the Barnum site became a temporary home for HUD trailers earmarked for residents displaced by the flooding. For about 20 years, a vast stretch of the land remained vacant and had little utility, save for the occasional impromptu teenage gathering.

In the late 1990s, Popple Construction purchased the approximate 124-acre parcel and what began as a proposed modular home project blossomed into an expanse of single-family detached dwellings.

In 2004, the TJ Maxx distribution center in the Grimes Industrial Park, at 1 million square feet in area, was estimated to be the fifth-largest tilt-up construction project in the world. In short, this type of construction requires the concrete walls of the facility to be formed on the ground, cured and then lifted in place or “tilted up” with cranes to erect the building’s exterior. Other tenants in the park include FedEx, USHydrations, Cascades Tissue Group, and Stephenson Equipment.

Naturally, the namesake of the complex had an instrumental role in convincing company execs to conduct business in the Greater Pittston area. Poplawski said Grimes had a casual approach to negotiating with the many C-level execs he encountered. With a revolving door of prospects, names sometimes escaped him. So, Grimes would frequently refer to his counterparts as “cuz” — a colloquial term often used by Greater Pittstonians to convey respect and admiration.

Scott Linde, president of Linde Corporation, has seen his business expand from 8 employees in 1970 to more than 300 in 2019. The company began operations in 1965 with some outmoded construction equipment Linde picked up from his grandfather. Like many other local construction businesses, Linde’s growth phase took flight in the aftermath of Agnes when the company helped restore normalcy to the infrastructure of the local river valleys.

In the past decade, forays into the Marcellus shale gas boom have kept the revenue flowing and Linde recently finished construction on its corporate headquarters in the O’Hara Industrial Park. The park is named after Vincent O’Hara, former Pittston Chamber board president and also secretary of the Pittston City Merchants Bureau in the mid to late 50’s. Once spread over three counties, Linde has simplified operations by settling into its new home between the CenterPoint Park to the east and the Grimes Park to the west.

Back in 1978, Binghamton-based Cook Brothers sensed an opportunity south of its base of operations in New York’s southern tier. The 100-year-old heavy truck-parts business chose a site along Oak Street in Pittston Township to serve the markets of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area. That move helped establish the Quackenbush Industrial Park as a viable business location, drawing neighboring businesses such as RLS Logistics, TJ Cannon and Praxair Welding.

Like many wholesale businesses and distribution centers before and after it, Cook Brothers benefits from a location situated minutes from major highways such as Interstate 81 and 84 as well as the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The logistical cake is iced by Greater Pittston’s proximity to the ports of New York and the major metro hub of Philadelphia, each locale only about a two-hour drive from NEPA.

The next century of possibilities for the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce beckons. And while land development may not sit at the top of the agenda, the organization is marketing a land parcel to develop a Keystone Opportunity Zone property in Duryea near McAlpine Street.

The Greater Pittston Chamber now sets sights on educating, training and employing the local workforce, especially with regard to skills training. New technology and an exodus of skilled employees will create a labor crunch, of more than 9,300 unfilled positions expected by 2023, according to a 2018 Talent Report prepared by The Institute of Public Policy & Economic Development at Wilkes University.

Mikitish hopes Greater Pittston can help plug that gap by readying prospective employees, attracting new commerce and bolstering the bottom lines of retail, service, and manufacturing businesses that already call the region home.

Primarily, the chamber plans to further engage the current membership by offering more value-added benefits. The existing membership package already includes a variety of networking opportunities, free marketing and publicity campaigns, along with discounts from insurance carriers and energy suppliers.

Adding to the mix, Mikitish says the team plans to aggressively promote “member-to-member” discounts and public “hot deals” — discounted member products and services readily available to the public on the Chamber’s website.

Since the U.S. Small Business Administration counted 30.4 million companies that employ 500 people or less in 2015, Mikitish intends to foster improved awareness of small business. The Chamber will pursue increased educational opportunities for owners and employees, as well as create initiatives for greater advocacy in the segment.

No regional Chamber boasts as large a Women’s Network as Greater Pittston. Hoping to capitalize on that strength, Mikitish expects heightened community service activity to result from increased interactions with the region’s professional women.

Lastly, the Chamber will focus on job-creation and placement opportunities for local residents. Promoting career exploration events at regional high schools and leveraging the benefits of the statewide apprenticeship programs will continue as goals of the organization.

The Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce engages about 425 members and serves the Greater Pittston Area which includes 13 different municipalities and two school districts, Pittston Area and Wyoming Area. These municipalities cover approximately 64 square miles and have a combined population of just under 50,000 people.

Thom Tracy is a content developer, competitive researcher and market strategist for a large-cap Silicon Valley software purveyor.

In the early 1990s, a small group of women executives, sitting around a table sharing experiences, soon came to understand that many professional women face the same challenges at work and in life.

After a few years of hosting luncheon meetings and educational forums, membership was still growing slowly. So, in 1998, the group decided they were taking themselves a bit too seriously. They nominated Lori Nocito as chairwoman of the committee and the Women’s Network, as we know it today, was born.

Today, the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network boasts a membership of more than 500 women from all over Northeastern Pennsylvania. Members enjoy invitations to two annual signature events — the Holiday Party and Marketplace and the St Patrick’s Day Distinctive Woman of the Year Award Dinner.

The annual Holiday Party and Marketplace brings members, with their friends and family, together with close to 50 small business vendors for a special night of fun, food and shopping.

The annual St Patrick’s Day Distinctive Woman of the Year Award Dinner honors a Greater Pittston Woman who lived her life, often quietly, but made a significant impact on her community.

Other themed events are held throughout the year for members to network, experience new business offerings, support a local non-profit or just take a moment to enjoy a night out with a colleague.

All members are encouraged, at every event, to re-introduce themselves to the group and share details of their latest venture. Members of the Women’s Network also have the benefit of being part of the Chamber Network and are welcome to attend Chamber events too.

A Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network Application can be downloaded at: https://chambermaster.blob.core.windows.net/userfiles/UserFiles/chambers/2791/CMS/Women’s-Network-Application.pdf

PITTSTON — In June of 2020, the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce will celebrate 100 years of service to the Greater Pittston Business Community.

Incorporated on June 26, 1920, the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce was created by a group of gentlemen who understood the importance of businesses working together to strengthen a community.

To celebrate this exciting milestone, an event committee is planning a Roaring 20’s themed party to be held Saturday, June 27, 2020, at the airplane hangar owned and operated by Aviation Technologies at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.

Save the date for an exciting evening of great food — prepared by several of our favorite Greater Pittston restaurants — live music and entertainment, plus you can take home a souvenir memory book filled with the history of the Chamber and its members.

If you would like to be a part of planning this exciting event, or would like to have your business included in the memory book, please contact us at 570-655-1424, or info@pittstonchamber.org. Information regarding sponsorship opportunities, ticket prices and more event details will be released shortly. Follow us on Facebook for updates.

The gentlemen who created the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce stated as part of its original purpose, the desire for businesses to work together to advance the financial, industrial and professional interests of the City of Pittston and surrounding communities, by promoting integrity and good faith; just and equitable principles; and to discover and correct abuses.

In essence, if we work together, treat each other well, and hold each other accountable, we can all succeed. With the passing of 100 years, as we look forward to 100 more, we can all agree these gentlemen were on to something.

As time passed and the organization grew, the Chamber played a critical role in the industrial development of Greater Pittston.

Initiated by Board President Vincent T. O’Hara — for which O’Hara Industrial Park in Pittston Township is named — then sparked by the dynamic energy of John “Jack” Grimes, Executive Vice President, the Chamber built the infrastructure for Grimes, Quackenbush, O’Hara and Duryea industrial parks.

The culmination of this investment not only put Greater Pittston on the map, but also helped position us to be the highly desirable destination for business entities that we are today.

As the Next Century of Service approaches, the Chamber will focus on Member Services, Small Business, Workforce Development and our Women’s Network.

Expect to see more, tangible member benefits, like education and advocacy events, member discounts, and a greater focus on member-to-member referrals.

Join us for our Small Business Spotlights and Women’s Network Events to experience first-hand the inviting business culture

Workforce Development continues to be a topic of conversation for all businesses; new and old; big and small alike. We will continue to encourage dialog between employers and the workforce, supporting educational programming and developing training programs for both our current and future employees.

The Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce engages about 425 members and serves the Greater Pittston Area which includes 13 different municipalities and two school districts, Pittston Area and Wyoming Area.

These municipalities cover approximately 64 square miles and have a combined population of just under 50,000 people.

To join the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, visit http://www.pittstonchamber.org/member/newmemberapp/ to complete the online application or call the office at (570)655-1424.

PITTSTON — Prime Inc., an international company, is a full truck-load carrier with more than 1,000 trucks dispatched out of its Pittston terminal on Armstrong Road.

More than 220 in-house associates work at the Pittston location, said Richard Yarborough, Pittston terminal manager.

“We deliver to the lower 48 states, Canada and Mexico,” Yarborough said. “The Pittston terminal is a full service location for our drivers and fleet, with truck and trailer repair and maintenance, a body and paint shop, plus we provide fuel, tires and inspections.”

Yarborough said Prime has a training program for new drivers and they sell used equipment from the Pittston location. He said a sales team and fleet operations staff are also on site.

The terminal complex houses a spa, cafeteria, fitness center for drivers, in-house personnel and family members.

Robert E. Low started Prime in Urbana, Missouri, in 1970 with one dump truck. Robert’s vision of providing the ultimate in customer satisfaction enabled Prime to expand rapidly to become a $50 million operation by 1980, when the company relocated corporate headquarters to Springfield, Missouri. The early 80’s ushered in an era of deregulation, a national economic slow-down, and an unprecedented purge in the trucking industry.

Prime, though they downsized operations considerably, remained resolute and diligent in their efforts. As a result, the company focused primarily on those areas of expertise which had proven to be most profitable. Emphasis was placed initially on refrigerated business and later expanded to include flatbed and brokerage services. Cost controls, customer service enhancements, and an aggressive effort to recruit the most qualified personnel in the industry enabled Prime to continue to prosper while providing superior and reliable transportation services.

Since 1986, Prime has experienced a steady growth in revenue every year. Prime’s personnel, equipment, and technology remains on the cutting edge of the transportation industry, and the company’s growth remains steady and well-managed. Prime continues to position itself to serve customers well into the new millennium.

• Must be at least 21 years old with a valid license from your state of permanent residence including a tanker endorsement.

• If any failed or refused drug or alcohol related test, must provide proof of completed Substance Abuse Counseling to consider.

• Must present one or more of the following: US Passport, State Certified Copy of Birth Certificate, or INS paperwork that shows US Citizenship or that permanent residence has been established and is current.

• An affirmative answer to the questions regarding criminal record will not automatically result in the denial of employment. An applicant’s criminal record will be evaluated based on the job for which the applicant has applied.

PITTSTON TWP. —A long-established Pittston Township business park is being viewed in a new light thanks to a major infrastructure project.

Grimes Industrial Park — developed by Pittston Area Industrial Development (PAID) decades ago — has welcomed several new tenants since the extension of Navy Way Road from Interstate 81 at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport to Commerce Road inside the park.

The $43 million I-81/Navy Way Road project combined two access points on I-81’s northbound and southbound lanes into one, installed three multi-lane roundabouts, reconstructed 1.5 miles of I-81, and built a new one-mile Navy Way Road to connect the interstate to the airport and Grimes Industrial Park.

The improved road access has paid dividends for the business park. In 2014, when the infrastructure project was underway, A. Duie Pyle, one of the Northeastern United States’ top truckload, less than truckload and warehousing and distribution companies, constructed a two-building industrial complex along Sathers Drive.

The complex consists of an expandable 32,795-square-foot terminal with an attached office and an 8,505 square foot maintenance building. The 12.95-acre site located on Sathers Drive had been fully prepared by Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services through the developer’s ReadyToGo Program.

In 2016, FedEx Ground constructed a 310,000-square-foot distribution center in the park its largest such facility in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

At the time, FedEx spokesman David Westrick said the company chose the site along Freeport Road “because of its ease of access to major highways, proximity to customers’ distribution centers and a strong local community workforce for recruiting employees.”

In 2018, Mericle completed construction on a 16,500-square-foot industrial building on a ReadyToGo! Site on Sathers Drive for Stephenson Equipment Inc.

Stephenson Equipment Inc., or SEI, specializes in serving the crane and heavy lifting industries and the construction, paving, and road repair and maintenance markets in the Pennsylvania and New York state areas. SEI offers new and used crane sales, crane rentals, crane parts, and crane service.

The A. Duie Pyle, FedEx Ground, and Stephenson Equipment buildings were the first to be constructed in Grimes Industrial Park for many years.

“The new road project really boosted the park’s fortunes,” said Mericle Vice President of Marketing Jim Cummings. “Although the park had sites available, it had been a bit stagnant for a while. Our phone started ringing as soon as the highway project started.”

Cummings said since the start of the infrastructure project, Mericle completed four building pads in the park to meet client demand. A. Duie Pyle and Stephenson took two of the pads. The other two are capable of supporting 83,200-square-foot and 24,000-square-foot buildings, he said.

“We prepare our ReadyToGo! Sites in such a way that they can be used for short-term trailer parking until such time that we construct buildings,’ he said.

Recently, Mericle purchased a 38-acre site at the end of Oldfield Boulevard adjacent to the new FedEx Ground building. “We can construct up to 300,000 square feet on the parcel,” said Cummings. He said the site is an excellent location for an e-commerce fulfillment company that needs to be in close proximity to overnight delivery companies.

“FedEx ground is immediately adjacent to the site and UPS is less than five minutes away. Access to the interstate is now excellent. We think the site has the potential to support a very significant economic development project,” he said.

PITTSTON — Grab any beverage from the cooler in any store in America, and there’s a near 100 percent chance that the first ingredient listed will be water.

It’s more than a building block of life — it’s the keystone of a trillion-dollar global industry.

And yet, there’s a common misconception that each individual brand bottles its own products, from pumping the water to printing the labels.

Headquartered in the Grimes Industrial Park in Pittston, USHydrations’ facilities cover a combined 500,000 square feet of operating space. By all accounts, the company’s operations are the envy of an industry — sleek, stylish and wildly efficient. Inside, bottling lines churn out upwards of 2,200 bottles a minute, or 2.5 million per day.

Encompassing everything from mineral and flavor injections to custom packaging and labeling, the premier beverage contract manufacturer’s clientele includes many of the most prominent global and national brands regularly found on store shelves.

“We don’t operate in a commodity market; we produce premium products for global brands, which is one of the things that sets us apart,” says Prashant Shitut, the firm’s President and CEO. “Quality and service — in our business, these things matter.”

But when Shitut first arrived in 2014, he encountered a company brimming with untapped potential. And not just the water, either.

“When I joined the company, all of us had one goal in mind — to make USHydrations as successful as some other companies that have been built over the years, and that’s not an easy task” says Shitut.

The overhaul started at the highest ranks, where Shitut spent the next 1½ years reshaping the management team.

In 2018, the company unveiled their latest high-speed PET production line which utilizes matrix PET bottle blowers that will rapidly produce and fill bottles of nearly any shape or size.

“Manufacturing requires constant capital investments, whether you’re addressing efficiency, quality control or both,” Shitut said. “We needed to be top notch in everything we do.”

The company offers a vast range of career opportunities across the administrative, manufacturing, quality, logistics and engineering functions – not to mention competitive compensation packages, benefits and incentive programs.

“Our employees are the heartbeat of our organization,” said Jennifer Verry, Human Resources Manager. “There is a true sense of pride in the work they perform, and their expertise and dedication have been a significant contributing factor to our continued growth.”

Through it all, Shitut says the company’s major stockholder and Chairman Sandy Insalaco Sr. went to great lengths to bolster management’s efforts, helping fast-track decisions that other, publicly owned companies would’ve taken months to implement.

“We believe that with every passing year, we are coming closer to Sandy’s standards,” Shitut says.

“Frankly, they do all the work. I’m proud of them,” Insalaco said. “We invest in the latest technology to be competitive and to get the best product out there. That’s what we have to do to deliver a real good product. I always dreamed to have what I call my ‘Dream Team,’ my ‘Super Bowl team,’ and I’ve got it here today.”

“When you combine engaged ownership with a strong culture, it’s much easier to make the changes necessary for long-term success,” Shitut says. “We have a lot of things in the works, but it’s the credibility we’ve established that I think really sets us apart

In 1985, after completing college in Philadelphia, Rob Mericle returned to his hometown of Wilkes-Barre with the dream of starting a commercial development company to help a community struggling for decades with above average unemployment rates.

Since that time, Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services (Mericle) and its family of companies have made a profoundly positive impact on Greater Wilkes-Barre and all of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

In the late 1980s, Mericle constructed the region’s first, privately-developed, speculative industrial buildings. Approximately 22 million square feet later, Mericle’s buildings provide homes for companies that together employ more than 14,500 people.

From its headquarters near Wilkes-Barre, Mericle owns and manages more than 15 million square feet of bulk industrial, office, flex, and medical space and lists as tenants and clients some of the world’s most prominent companies including Amazon.com, The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Merrill Lynch, Neiman Marcus, CVS Caremark, Tailored Brands, Isuzu, Corning, Geisinger, Michaels, and American Eagle Outfitters.

Mericle is a vertically-integrated company with more than 250 in-house professionals with expertise in all aspects of commercial real estate development and construction. The Mericle team includes licensed architects, land planners, professional engineers, surveyors, licensed electricians, plumbers, carpenters, certified public accountants, in-house legal counsel, leasing and marketing professionals, licensed brokers, property managers, and more.

Mericle also serves small and homegrown businesses. Its many flex buildings provide space for dozens of companies that lease from 6,000 square feet to 120,000 square feet.

Today, Mericle is forging an even brighter future. Through its ReadyToGo!™ Program, Mericle is positioning Northeastern Pennsylvania to be a preferred business location along the I-81 Corridor for years to come.

Mericle is fully preparing 90 sites on 1,450 acres of company-owned land in 11 area business parks and has designed buildings totaling 14 million square feet for these ReadyToGo!™ Sites.

Never before in history has this area had so many sites ready for the immediate construction of new buildings.

This overview details how Mericle is continuing to use its unique “master builder” corporate structure and its ReadyToGo!™ Program to provide exceptional service to its clients and move Northeastern Pennsylvania forward.

The company’s growth and success have been based on the principle of providing quality commercial real estate at a very competitive price. Mericle has always been the leader in securing quality tenants to fill the speculative space that it constructs and has consistently maintained the stability of its portfolio by attracting and retaining quality tenants.

Mericle is proud of the fact that it has never lost an existing tenant to a competitor in its core market. That ability to attract and retain quality tenants for its portfolio has been the catalyst for the company’s growth since 1985.By self-performing virtually all aspects of development and construction, using its own in-house personnel, Mericle is better able to control costs and fast track delivery schedules to meet its clients’ needs.

It fashions itself as a throwback to the “master builder” of old when experienced craftsmen self-performed all aspects of the construction process. Mericle has consistently proven its ability to build quality investment-grade commercial space at low costs by maintaining an experienced staff that, like in a manufacturing process, has been able to perfect and fine tune the efficiency of its delivery process by repetitively producing a consistent and similar product type.

The result is extremely fast delivery of quality product at very competitive rates.Mericle is the authorized Butler Builder® for Northeastern Pennsylvania. This close association with Butler Manufacturing Company, the largest manufacturer of pre-engineered building systems in the United States, allows Mericle to offer its clients an unmatched level of innovation and flexibility.

Mericle’s in-house design and engineering team includes some of the industry’s most experienced professionals in dealing with Butler systems. Every material, coating, part, and process is tested to ensure strict compliance with exact Butler standards.

Since our founding in 1985, Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services has provided significant financial, in-kind, and volunteer support to hundreds of non-profit and community organizations throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Since just 2005 alone, our company has donated more than 60,000 man hours to community service. In addition, Mericle employees and their families have donated thousands of hours of their personal time to many local worthy causes.

While Robert Mericle, the Mericle family, and our employees have helped a wide variety of local organizations, we focus our philanthropic and volunteer efforts on youth programs and activities, educational opportunities, healthcare initiatives, aid to the economically disadvantaged, community park upgrades, and regional economic development programs.We encourage you to join us, and get involved with these organizations.

Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services has constructed the first industrial facility in excess of one million square feet ever constructed on speculation in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

The building is a 1,023,000 square-foot speculative industrial building at 200 Technology Drive in CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park East, Jenkins Township.

Company President Robert Mericle said he decided to construct the building because of how popular CenterPoint and Northeastern Pennsylvania have become with companies seeking a strategic location for a new distribution center.

Mericle listed Amazon.com, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Neiman Marcus, Corning, Kimberly Clark, Isuzu, Tailored Brands, Benco Dental, Pepsi, Apollo Flow Controls, and FedEx SmartPost as among the firms that have opened large distribution centers in the park.

Altogether, there are 51 tenants and approximately 5,500 employees in 9.9 million square feet in CenterPoint.

“CenterPoint is less than one mile from I-81 and I-476 and is immediately adjacent to major facilities for FedEx Ground, FedEx Express, and UPS,” said Mericle. “The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport is just three miles away and many major trucking firms are within a 15-minute drive.”

More than 51 million people live within 200 miles of CenterPoint. Philadelphia, Harrisburg, New York City, and Port Elizabeth can each be reached in about two hours.

“We have designed the building to accommodate mid-size to large bulk industrial tenants that have very high trailer parking requirements, and e-commerce fulfillment operations that need huge areas for employee parking,” continued Mericle.

Mericle also noted the project site has room for close to 1,000 trailers and more than 1,000 employee parking spaces.

“There are several excellent training grants programs available to help companies staff their operations,” said Mericle.

Because the park is located immediately off of two interstates just 10 minutes from Scranton and Wilkes-Barre – the region’s two largest cities — tenants are able to maximize labor draw.

Mericle said 200 Technology Drive began as a ReadyToGo!™ Site. For each ReadyToGo! Site, Mericle clears, grades, and compacts the property, installs all utilities, and obtains all permits and approvals necessary to begin work on footers and foundations immediately upon the signing of a lease agreement.

To learn more about 200 Technology Drive, please visit the new property website at www.mericlereadytogo.com/200TechnologyDrive/.

Mericle Construction, Inc. is a vertically-integrated company with more than 250 in-house professionals with expertise in all aspects of commercial real estate development and construction.

The Mericle team includes licensed architects, land planners, professional engineers, surveyors, licensed electricians, plumbers, carpenters, certified public accountants, in-house legal counsel, leasing and marketing professionals, licensed brokers, property managers, and more.

Mericle Construction, Inc. has provided commercial real estate solutions to several hundred companies along Pennsylvania’s I-78/I-81 Corridor.

PITTSTON TWP. — The 1,800-acre CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park in Jenkins Township and Pittston Township was developed by Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services starting in 2005.

Today, the park is home to 37 buildings totaling 9.9 million square feet. There are 51 tenants in the park and together they employ about 5,500 people.

The park is home to a wide variety of businesses, including several manufacturing and office firms, and has proven to be especially attractive to distribution centers

CenterPoint tenants were drawn by several factors that are typically considered when a company goes through its site selection process. These include:

Proximity to Major Markets — CenterPoint is just two hours to New York City, Philadelphia and Harrisburg. More than 51 million people live within 200 miles.

• Available Space — Because of Mericle’s very active speculative building program, there is always a good selection of space available in the park. Mericle can typically accommodate companies needing from 8,000 square feet to more than one million square feet.

• Affordable Real Estate — Lease prices, utilities, and taxes in CenterPoint and Northeastern Pennsylvania are considerably lower than they are in the major metro areas in the Northeast U.S.

• Pad Ready Sites — Through Mericle’s ReadyToGo!™ Program, sites in CenterPoint have been cleared, graded, and compacted, and made ready for the immediate construction of building foundations. Because of this, Mericle can deliver newly constructed space faster than any other developer in the market.

• Abundant Trailer Storage — Unlike many competing developers who often construct buildings on “postage stamp” sites, Mericle develops its buildings with extra elbow room, leaving plenty of ground on-site for you to park your trailers. In CenterPoint, Mericle’s ReadyToGo!™ Program means you’ll always have access to more spots than you will ever need.

• Reliable Utility Service — Strong water pressure from PA American Water Company, affordable and dependable natural gas from UGI Penn Natural Gas, and very reliable electricity from PPL Electric Utilities form the backbone of a robust park infrastructure that ensures no down time for tenants.

• Fiber Availability — Four telecommunications companies — Comcast, Verizon, Frontier Communications, and Level 3 Communications — have deployed fiber service in the park. Comcast has not only deployed its network along the park’s roadways, it has extended its services into the buildings. In CenterPoint, you’re guaranteed to have access to up to 10 Gigabits-per-second (Gbps) of network performance and services.

• Overnight Delivery Service — Many companies rely on FedEx, UPS, and the U.S. Postal Service to get their products to their customers quickly. FedEx SmartPost is located inside CenterPoint East. In 2016, FedEx Ground opened a newly constructed 310,000 square foot distribution center less than five minutes from the park. FedEx Express and UPS are located in adjacent business parks. The U.S. Postal Service has three facilities within a 10-minute drive.

• Access to Air Service — The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, which is seeing steady growth, is just three miles from the park’s entrance.

• Access to Labor — There is a national labor shortage especially for skilled positions. CenterPoint is located just 10 minutes from Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. More people (320,000+) live within a 25- minute drive than any other business park in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Tenants in the park have a recruiting advantage over companies located in less accessible and more remote locations.

• Access to Higher Education — There are 17 college and university campuses with more than 51,000 enrolled students within an hour’s drive of CenterPoint — 12 of which are within 25 minutes. This network of higher education provides an invaluable resource for employers and their employees, offering ample opportunity for co-ops, continuing education, customized job training, internships, and recruiting.

• Supportive Partners — Numerous local, state, and federal agencies and organizations have worked with Mericle and CenterPoint’s tenants to form a very supportive public-private partnership to make CenterPoint a success. These include Luzerne County, the Pittston Area School Board, Jenkins Township, Pittston Township, the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, Penn’s Northeast, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Pennsylvania Career Link, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, and the U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Surface Mining.

• Competition Losing its Edge — Northeastern Pennsylvania’s biggest competing locales for job-creating projects are the Lehigh Valley, Greater Harrisburg, and Northern and Central New Jersey. However, there has been so much industrial construction in those metro areas that they are running out of land. Also, the costs of real estate, taxes, and labor have risen significantly. Companies are now contacting Mericle saying they looked in those areas but decided they can no longer afford to locate there.

Stripes, polka dots, and beautiful floral patterns. If you are familiar with shopping Boden, you know those are just some signatures of the Boden British style that are shipped out right here in Pittston Township.

Driving along Route 81 North you are bound to notice several large warehouse and office buildings that make up part CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park East in Jenkins Twp. Boden is one of those buildings that you can see, 11 years young; the only call center and warehouse in the United States. Boden headquarters are in London, England and the company was founded by Johnnie Boden in 1991.

Boden is a British clothing line for women, children and men, mostly selling via the Internet and catalogs. With that said, Pittston is home to the only Boden outlet store in the United States and is run and operated by the Boden team from the Jenkins Township Business Park, CenterPoint East.

Boden is home to over 60 customer services representatives and 125 warehouse employees. This Boden operation handles customer service calls and shipping throughout the United States. The Boden brand continues to grow its image in America with sales that increased 20% in the United States in 2018.

I spoke with Jenna Tribbet; Head of U.S. operations and Mary All Olver, Call Center Manager. Both women sparkled and shone when they spoke of their employee culture.

“We deliver joy,” said Olver. A lot of new employees that have customer service experience are often a little burned out from prior high-pressure call centers that they’ve worked. Not at Boden.

Boden’s service teams’ goal is to make the customer happy, and they do! The sense of “delivering joy” can be seen internally and of course, to their customers.

Boden employees can look forward to a casual dress code and a very friendly work environment. Coffee, teas, popcorn and more are daily treats that employees have access to at no charge. They also get clothing allowances for Boden products. Employees that are involved in local charities are also allowed to take paid time off to volunteer their time and services.

Boden cares about their communities. Tribbet told us they financially donate to four charities per year, all based on employee input.

Recently, they raised almost $1,500 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bridge for annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake. In addition, Boden works with local organizations like Toys for Tots, Blue Chip Farm and the Pittston Chamber of Commerce. In fact, they are sponsoring a happy hour Friday, April 26 at 3 p.m. at the local Susquehanna Brewing Company.

And don’t forget to shop the Boden Outlet store, 73 South Main St., Pittston. They are open: Thursday 12 p.m. – 7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 4p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park is considered by many to be the fastest growing business park in Pennsylvania.

Built by Mericle Construction under the leadership of President and CEO Robert Mericle, CenterPoint is home to close to 47 companies and approximately 5,400 employees.

Many well-known firms have industrial operations in CenterPoint including The Home Depot, Lowes, Kimberly Clark, Neiman Marcus, Amazon.com, Corning, and Isuzu.

CenterPoint’s key strengths include immediate access to two interstate highways, close proximity to abundant labor, strong utilities, service from three overnight delivery companies, and a 10 year, 100 percent real estate tax abatement on improvements (LERTA) for all buildings constructed.

Since 2007, Mericle Construction has developed or coordinated the development of 35 industrial, flex, and office buildings in CenterPoint that total about 9 million square feet. Mericle Construction has also fully prepared more than 30 ReadyToGo!™ Sites in the park. These sites are cleared, graded, and compacted and have all permits and approvals in place. They are ready for the immediate construction of your building’s foundations.

Mericle can accommodate industrial, office, and medical companies needing from 5,000 square feet to 1 million square feet in CenterPoint. Our in-house design and construction professionals will fit out your space to your exact needs. Our Property Management and Landscaping division will take good care of your space for your life as our tenant.

• More people (320,000+) live within a 25-minute drive than any other business park in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

• It has ReadyToGo! Sites™ available that have been cleared, graded, and compacted and have all utilities, permits, and approvals in place.

• The park is surrounded by many amenities such as restaurants, banks, gas stations, and retailers.

• An award-winning developer (Mericle) is your single-point-of-contact throughout your entire project.

PITTSTON — Recently the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development, in partnership with Penn’s Northeast analyzed the current and forecasted workforce, industry, and educational profiles of Luzerne County.

According to the 2017 U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, Luzerne County had a population of 317,343 people, which saw an increase from the previous year.

• The region’s higher education infrastructure is an asset in addressing workforce needs. In the 2016-2017 academic school year, a total of 4,537 degrees were awarded.

Luzerne County has seen a rise in net employment within the past five years, with an increase of 4.7 percent overall. The number of employees has consistently gone up in Luzerne County over the years, as displayed in the chart below.

• Luzerne County saw an increase of 1,082 jobs over the last five years, and jobs related to health care grew at an annual rate of 0.8 percent every year.

• In the next five years, a demand of 14,495 workers is expected, with 6,224 workers expected to exit the workforce, 6,443 workers transferring to other industries, and an increase of 1,829 workers overall with an annual rate of 1.4 percent.

• Health care represents 12.8 percent of the total GDP for Luzerne County and 17.1 percent of total jobs in the area.

• Registered nurses, nursing assistants, personal care aides, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, and home health aides are occupations in which more than 1,000 workers employed.

• There are 3,248 registered nurses, 2,266 nursing assistants, 1,961 personal care aides, 1,064 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, and 1,000 home health aides employed in the health care and social assistance filed in the county.

• Approximately $310 million was paid in wages to those working in Luzerne County’s health care and social assistance industry in the third quarter of 2018. A total of 744 degrees were awarded in Luzerne County in healthcare-related fields.

• The programs with the most awards given were registered nursing and health services. A total of 338 degrees were offered for students to become registered nurses in the county last year.

Penn’s Northeast (PNE) is Northeastern Pennsylvania’s regional nonprofit economic development agency, dedicated to attracting quality employers to our region.

Created by a coalition of private business leaders, utility companies, local economic development organizations, Chambers of Commerce, and governments to promote Northeastern Pennsylvania’s collective assets, Penn’s Northeast facilitates the creation and retention of quality jobs by marketing Northeastern Pennsylvania to the world, and by providing site selection and incentive financing assistance to businesses, real estate brokers, developers, and site selection consultants.

The organization serves as a single regional point of contact for businesses looking to relocate to or expand within Northeastern Pennsylvania, functioning as a liaison between local development partners, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and businesses seeking new facilities.

PNE was created to perform a specific set of responsibilities — collaborative external marketing and site selection assistance — on behalf of its member organizations. Penn’s Northeast was created with the knowledge that Northeastern Pennsylvania is a large and varied region. Consequently, the organization works hard to be responsive to its diversity of strengths, to its geography, and to its stakeholders.

PITTSTON — Over the last decade, our region experienced the aging of our workforce and a decrease in our population, yet more and more businesses are choosing to expand into NEPA. These factors combine to create a challenging situation – Will we have enough employees to fill future positions?

Instead of insisting our children “Go to College”, we instead must impart the importance of “Continuing Your Education”. Learning is a lifetime obligation which doesn’t require, nor is it limited to, 4 years of college. Talking with our children early and often about the many options available to them after high school and the vast number of career opportunities in our region is critical to helping them choose a satisfying career path as well as keeping our future workforce close to home.

At the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, we are committed to helping the students of today, who are our workforce of tomorrow, better understand the career opportunities available right here in our own backyard.

By working with great partners like PA CareerLink of Luzerne County, the Luzerne Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, Luzerne County Community College, Misericordia University, Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services and our local school districts including the career technical centers, we are building a bridge between students and employers. Our joint Career Exploration Days and Job Fairs have reached over 5000 students from 6 different schools and introduced them to pathways that can lead to fulfilling careers in healthcare, manufacturing, food processing, construction and so much more.

Many of our members support Pittston Area School District and their YES Program. The YES (Your Employability Skills) Northeast certificate program is administered by the Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Council. This is a year long elective course targeted at high school seniors to help students develop the soft skills necessary to succeed both on and off the job. The program includes resume building, mock interviews, presentations from local business professionals and several site tours of local employers. Many of the businesses that support the YES program also offer preferred interviews to program certificate holders.

As the cost of higher education continues to rise, many students are looking for ways to minimize the financial burden of a post-secondary education as well as secure a meaningful job in their field of study. In addition, employers are looking for highly skilled employees who are stable and reliable.

Apprenticeships provide a pathway to career development that minimizes the financial investment for students and ensures employers get the skilled employees they need. Apprenticeships are a flexible job training strategy that benefits both employers and employees and can be customized to meet the needs of any business.

The Greater Pittston Chamber is in the process of developing a Group Sponsored Registered Apprenticeship – Innovations in Management. This program will help the apprentice develop the skills necessary to manage a team of people and can be applied to management positions in any industry. The 16-credit classroom curriculum will be based on teaching apprentices how to communicate effectively

within an organization; How to understand the psychology of the workplace; How to set, measure and review team goals and expectations plus so much more.

Employers who engage in the Innovations in Management Apprenticeship develop an on-the-job training process tailored to the specific needs of the organization. At the completion of the program, the apprentice is fully trained to take on the responsibilities of the managerial position and the employer has an employee who understands the needs and processes of the organization.

It is human nature to continue to share the same old story in the absence of a new one. For NEPA, it is now time for a new story, a story of growth and revitalization. This is no longer the economically battered, depressed area people believe it to be. Wages are growing, clean, safe work environments are the norm and employers recognize the benefits of establishing a presence in our region. We have a strong “eds and meds” economy plus a manufacturing sector that fluctuates between the 2nd and 3rd largest employment base in the country. Good things are happening in Northeastern Pennsylvania and our future workforce can count on it.

The Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce engages about 425 members and serves the Greater Pittston Area which includes 13 different municipalities and two school districts, Pittston Area and Wyoming Area. These municipalities cover approximately 64 square miles and have a combined population of just under 50,000 people.

The Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce was incorporated on June 26, 1920 and will soon be celebrating 100 years of service to the Greater Pittston Business Community.

Entrepreneurs who are taking their first steps toward starting their own business recognize that it’s a very exciting time. They have a great idea for a product or service that they believe can turn into a profitable business venture.

However, once they are armed with their idea, the first question business owners often ask themselves is, “Now what?”

There are a lot of factors that determine business success and having a viable product or service is only one part of that equation. So, it comes as no surprise that 66% of businesses fail within the first five years when the owner tries to launch the company alone. But, statistics also show that 87% of companies that start in a business incubator are still operating after that same five-year period.

One of the key reasons for that success rate is the partnerships that entrepreneurs find when they launch their business in an incubator. Business incubators, like the CAN BE Innovation Center in the Valmont Industrial Park in West Hazleton, are designed to nurture new businesses and help them grow during their initial start-up period, a time when a business is most vulnerable and needs the most support. Incubator programs provide business advice, access to financing and exposure to business and technical support services as well as networking opportunities.

CAN BE is one of 15 partners in the Ben Franklin Incubator Network, which is overseen by Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Ben Franklin Incubator Network is one of the largest business incubator networks in the country and includes the Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at Wilkes University.

CAN BE Coordinator of Entrepreneurial Services Jocelyn Sterenchock said, “The support network and partnerships we have with organizations throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania is a vital part of building entrepreneurship in the region. Once a business interacts with one organization, they are connected to the larger path of partnering organizations that we have in the area and can find the business resources that they need to succeed.”

In addition to its partnerships with Ben Franklin Technology Partners and the Allan P. Kirby Center, CAN BE also collaborates with Penn State Hazleton, the Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress (DHAP), the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Development Center at Wilkes University and SCORE to help businesses throughout Greater Hazleton.

It is with a sense of collaboration in mind that CAN BE joined Penn State Hazleton, DHAP and the Chamber to form the Hazleton Innovation Collaborative (THInC). Last year, Penn State Hazleton was awarded a $150,000 Invent Penn State seed grant that is being used to help fund the cost of renovating a building at 13-15 West Broad Street in Hazleton, which will be the home of the Hazleton LaunchBox.

The Hazleton LaunchBox will become part of the University’s Invent Penn State program, which is a Commonwealth-wide initiative to spur economic development, job creation and student career success. A key strategy of Invent Penn State is the establishment of innovation hubs, commonly known as business incubators, to blend entrepreneurship-focused academic programs, business startup training, mentoring, funding for commercialization and university-community collaborations to facilitate the challenging process of turning research discoveries into valuable products and services that can benefit Pennsylvanians and others.

Since CAN BE’s goal is to foster entrepreneurship and new venture development throughout the Hazleton area, the organization can help businesses even if they aren’t located inside the CAN BE Innovation Center.

Sterenchock said, “Our innovation center provides affordable space in a supportive environment that fosters business growth and success. But, we also provide consulting services to help small businesses start and grow to the next level – even without a physical presence in the incubator – through the affiliate member program. Ultimately, our goal is to provide entrepreneurial support to all members of Greater Hazleton so that we can foster new businesses, create jobs and build wealth in the community.”

The Community Association for New Business Entrepreneurship, or CAN BE, is the entrepreneurial division of CAN DO, Greater Hazleton’s economic development organization. In the early 2000s, CAN DO and Penn State Hazleton officials recognized the need of offering support for start-up companies through targeted resources and services and the need for new business assistance in Greater Hazleton. After more than a year of planning, the CAN BE Innovation Center opened in Valmont in 2005. Since its founding, nearly 50 jobs have been created by 16 incubator clients. For more information on CAN BE, visit www.canbe.biz or email Sterenchock at jsterenchock@canbe.biz.

HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf attacked local elected officials making plans to reopen in defiance of his shutdown orders as cowards deserting the pandemic battlefield, threatening Monday to block aid to rebellious Pennsylvania counties in an escalating political fight over his administration’s handling of the coronavirus.

PHILADELPHIA — President Donald Trump pushed Monday for Pennsylvania to reopen its economy faster, escalating a fight already roiling the state as Republican lawmakers and some local officials pressure Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf to lift coronavirus restrictions that have slowed the pandemic’s spread but left about a quarter of the state’s workforce without a job.

HUNLOCK CREEK — The Garden Drive-In announced a series of safety precautions ahead of its scheduled reopening later this week.

WILKES-BARRE — Local restaurant owners affected by the state-imposed restrictions in response to the coronavirus have until Friday to apply for an emergency relief loan from the city.

A union representing some 45,000 healthcare workers voiced staunch support for Gov. Tom Wolf’s slow approach to re-opening the state and criticized politicians pushing to speed up or even defy that approach.

HARRISBURG — Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel signed a notice of execution for Eric Frein, who was convicted in the killing of a state police trooper outside the Blooming Grove barracks in 2014.

NEW YORK (AP) — Jerry Stiller, who for decades teamed with wife Anne Meara in a beloved comedy duo and then reached new heights in his senior years as the high-strung Frank Costanza on the classic sitcom “Seinfeld” and the basement-dwelling father-in-law on “The King of Queens,” died at 92, his son Ben Stiller announced Monday.

WILKES-BARRE — In an effort to improve the gathering of COVID-19 data from Pennsylvania’s industrial sector, Rep. Tarah Toohil Monday announced she plans to introduce legislation that would make it mandatory for companies statewide to provide daily reports regarding the impact of the virus on their workforce.

As officials in some counties voice interest in ending the coronavirus shutdown regardless of what Pennsylvania’s administration says, Luzerne County Manager C. David Pedri said Monday he does not yet have a position.

A local gym chain announced Monday that it would reopen the doors at two of its locations in the coming weeks, despite Luzerne County still being in the red stage of Pennsylvania’s phased reopening.

SCRANTON — A lot of tips float around in the quest to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, but a new article written by a University of Scranton psychology professor and a school alumna boils much of it down to being grateful.

Luzerne County’s election office estimates it will need at least 560 poll workers in the June 2 primary election but had only approximately 300 confirmed to work as of Friday, according to a report submitted to council.

NEWPORT TWP. — Township police arrested a man they say discharged a firearm multiple times on Saturday, striking a neighboring house that was occupied.

PLAINS TWP. — At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, toilet paper was as sought-after commodity as pork bellies, but that seems to have tapered off a bit.

WILKES-BARRE — A man free on bail while facing drug trafficking conspiracy charges was arrested after city police alleged he attempted to hide a loaded firearm during a traffic stop in the area of Old River Road and Maffett Street.

WILKES-BARRE — Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman Monday said it is the duty of every business and resident in Pennsylvania to ensure that they and the public at-large are provided with the maximum level of protection afforded by insurance.

WILKES-BARRE — The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Monday reported 10 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Luzerne County, bringing the total cases to 2,426.

SCRANTON — A new bipartisan task force aimed at helping the region recover from the damage caused by the coronavirus and related issues is the subject of controversy after one of its members posted angry remarks about business owners who were critical of Democrats.

WILKES-BARRE — In support of the hard work and dedication exhibited by front line workers during this difficult time, three local companies last week brought the worldwide #LightItBlue movement to northeastern Pennsylvania by lighting their buildings blue.

ATLANTA — Officials in Georgia say they are investigating an online threat against people protesting the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a black man who authorities say died at the hands of two white men as he ran through a neighborhood.

Due to a coronavirus freeze on non-essential hiring, only two new Luzerne County government employees were added in April, according to the newly released monthly personnel report.

The scheduling of Luzerne County delinquent tax and mortgage foreclosure sales is up in the air because of the coronavirus, officials said during a virtual council Real Estate Committee meeting last week.

WILKES-BARRE — When it comes to Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan on reopening Pennsylvania’s economy, a Wilkes University business professor says Harrisburg “has moved the goal posts.”

EXETER – The Wyoming Area Kiwanis Club’s Hometown Hero banner program is continuing with the arrival of more than 60 banners from the printers. On May 16, the banners will be raised in the boroughs of Wyoming and West Wyoming honoring service men and women in time for Memorial Day.

The TV was turned on to a news show and I was fooling around with something else and thought I heard the newscaster say, “Coming up next, the ‘murder hornet,’ now president in the United States for the first time.” I puzzled over it for a minute and realized she had actually said, “now present in the United States for the first time.” Still, given the around-the-clock lambasting of President Donald Trump, I excused myself.

Across Pennsylvania, consumers are being denied the basic ability to obtain shelter. Since the state’s business shutdown, Gov. Tom Wolf has deemed real estate a non-life sustaining business, which has caused a significant hardship for Pennsylvanians. We were shocked to see the governor continues to fail to recognize the need for consumers to buy and sell their homes. The phased reopening of the state still restricts more than half of Pennsylvanians from buying or selling a home and creates chaos in the real estate marketplace.

PLAINS TWP. — At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, toilet paper was as sought-after commodity as pork bellies, but that seems to have tapered off a bit.

Life is coming at us quickly these days. Whether changes have occurred in our professional or domestic lives — or both — COVID-19 has forced us to live differently and adapt almost daily.

It has been nearly two months since Gov. Tom Wolf closed Pennsylvania’s economy and only days since he allowed portions of Pennsylvania to start to reopen under uncertain and confusing guidelines.

According to the numbers reported in your May 8th edition, the total number of COVID-19 deaths in the state is 3,416.

After struggling with so many memories of my mom over this past Mother’s Day weekend, there were moments when I remembered some really good times.

Like most Pennsylvanians, our commonwealth’s nursing home providers watch Secretary of Health Rachel Levine’s daily updates with hope, but also with concern as we hear the latest numbers of nursing facility and personal care home residents who have tested positive for COVID-19. As this battle for the health of Pennsylvania continues, we think it’s important to provide an update on what our members are doing— and how state lawmakers and the Wolf administration can help.

PLYMOUTH — It’s been 52 years to the day that my mom passed away and not one day has gone by that I have not thought of her, relied on her or tried to emulate her.

WILKES-BARRE — Gov. Tom Wolf was joined by Attorney General Josh Shapiro this week to announce that he signed an executive order that protects Pennsylvanians from foreclosures or evictions through July 10.

I’m growing increasingly frustrated by how easy it is to spread misinformation in the days of the internet.

Given the terrible emergency we all are facing today, why should any of us spend our time doing – of all pastimes – genealogy?

What do the very wealthy and super rich want? They want the federal government to funds a strong national defense to protect their financial interests around the world even if it increases our national debt.

The high-temperature argument over blame for the coronavirus is rapidly pushing the United States and China into a potentially dangerous new Cold War.

PLAINS TWP. — During one of my evening rides, on a very nice, sunny day, I saw something I haven’t seen in years and it brought back many memories.

President Donald Trump is a liar — hardly the first but certainly the worst among U.S. presidents. By one count, he has made about 18,000 false or misleading claims, an unmistakable sign of his willingness to deceive.