Northeastern Pennsylvania, A Region of Choice

Transcription

shine
a new
sp onsored
section
Today, telecommunications is your
most important business tool. Everything
you do depends on clear, reliable voice
and data transmission. Everything we
do delivers exactly what you need.
Whatever your challenges, with a CTE
company you’ll get an effective, customized
solution.Totally customized.
And CTE companies deliver something
more. Our Customer Account Management
team is committed to helping your
business grow by keeping you abreast
of the latest products and services
that can make your business better.
Totally committed.
W
idmer
J
eff
B
y
n o r t h e a s t p e n n s y lva n i a
Local Telephone Service
Long Distance
Advanced Calling Features
High-Speed DSL Internet
ISDN,T1, DS3, OC3, OC12
Digital Centrex
Video Conferencing
LAN/WAN
Coal was king
and iron was hot.
It’s the people of
Northeast Pennsylvania
today that make
the region sparkle.
ATM/Frame Relay
In the struggle to find the right
telecommunications company for your business,
one company stands out.
totally.
Johner / getty images
118 U S A i r way s Attaché ★ D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 5
PBX-Key Systems
Visit ct-enterprises.com or call 1.877.464.2874 today.
shine
a new
sp onsored
section
Today, telecommunications is your
most important business tool. Everything
you do depends on clear, reliable voice
and data transmission. Everything we
do delivers exactly what you need.
Whatever your challenges, with a CTE
company you’ll get an effective, customized
solution.Totally customized.
And CTE companies deliver something
more. Our Customer Account Management
team is committed to helping your
business grow by keeping you abreast
of the latest products and services
that can make your business better.
Totally committed.
W
idmer
J
eff
B
y
n o r t h e a s t p e n n s y lva n i a
Local Telephone Service
Long Distance
Advanced Calling Features
High-Speed DSL Internet
ISDN,T1, DS3, OC3, OC12
Digital Centrex
Video Conferencing
LAN/WAN
Coal was king
and iron was hot.
It’s the people of
today that make
the region sparkle.
ATM/Frame Relay
In the struggle to find the right
telecommunications company for your business,
one company stands out.
totally.
Johner / getty images
PBX-Key Systems
Visit ct-enterprises.com or call 1.877.464.2874 today.
p
n o rt h e a s t p e n n s y lva n i a
Since then, Mortell has seen the light, moving from finance to insurance, building a
home and setting down roots. He volunteers
with the American Heart Association and
Luzerne is the only
county in the
United States with
the majority
of citizens
reporting Polish as
their primary ancestry.
The majority of
Pennsylvanians claim
to be German or
Pennsylvania Dutch.
joined the board of directors of Scranton Tomorrow and United Way of Lackawanna
County. He coaches baseball, basketball, and
Located near Wilkes-Barre in Luzerne County, Harvey’s Lake
is Pennsylvania’s largest natural lake, and largely a private residential area.
In its Victorian-era heyday the lake was
a bustling public playground.
accent
sp onsored
sec t i on
soccer. He doesn’t honk anymore.
“When I heard Scranton, it was kind of a
shock that the bank was going there because it
was out of the norm at the time. But my wife
found it easy to make friends. The people were
very friendly and willing to help. The location,
the lower cost of living, the high quality of the
workforce. . . . In a way, I think it’s an area that
is undiscovered.”
Not anymore. Northeast PA is seeing an
unprecedented boom in investment and people. In Scranton, Mayor Christopher Doherty
is presiding over a transformation that since
2001 has seen the city invest more than $125
million in new construction and the rehabilitation of historic structures. The city landed
the national headquarters of Southern Union,
a major national gas pipeline operator, and
VaxServe, a division of vaccine-maker Sanofi
Pasteur.
Scranton is also attracting new jobs, reversing a trend with the creation of more than
2,000 new positions since 2002.
“Our attitude is changing,” said Sara Hailstone, executive director of Scranton’s Office
of Economic and Community Development.
“Our attitude says, ‘Yes we can.’ Our small
businesses are growing. People are investing
in them. They believe.”
In Wilkes-Barre, the city has launched
some $500 million in new projects, including
a multimillion dollar renovation called the
Quick Facts
1. Industry meets tourism. Northeast Pennsylvania is about 2 hours west/northwest
of Manhattan. Penn’s Northeast, a regional economic development agency that
recruits business to the region, represents five counties including Lackawanna and
Luzerne (home to the traditionally industrialized communities of Scranton, Pittston,
Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, and Berwick) and Monroe, Pike, and Wayne (in the Pocono
Mountains, known for tourism and resort venues).
2. Bulking up. The U.S. Census Bureau calls the East Stroudsburg Micropolitan Area
the third fastest growing medium-sized region in the country for 2000–2003.
Monroe County’s population grew by 11.4 percent to 154,000. A separate survey by
East Stroudsburg University found one-quarter of the county’s workforce commutes
outside the county (9,000 to New Jersey, 4,000 to New York State).
3. River dance. Wilkes-Barre built levies to protect the city. Now it wants to tunnel
through them. The $30 million Susquehanna River Landing project will reconnect the
downtown and riverfront with two 60-ft.-wide portals drilled through the barrier.
Sponsors envision a public area similar to Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia featuring
museum, performance, convocation and commercial space.
sp on s ore d
se c t i on
a region of choice
W
e’re Penn’s Northeast – your single point of contact
for award-winning site-selection assistance in
Northeast Pennsylvania.
Our professional and confidential support team will provide
you with detailed information about our region’s talented
work force and job training, grant and loan programs.
We also offer the area’s only comprehensive, online,
searchable database for office and industrial sites and
facilities.
Bottom photo courtesy of the Luzerne County Convention and Visitors Bureau
hil Mortell’s life changed
with the traffic light on
Northern Boulevard. A
controller with NatWest
on Long Island, Mortell
had just moved his wife
and three children to Clarks
Summit. Between launching a new
operation and moving to a new home,
it had been a hectic month.
The first time the family explored the region, the drive had been long—3 hours and 10
minutes to cover the 178 miles from North
Babylon to this suburb of Scranton. But all
roads seemed to lead to Northeast Pennsylvania and the traffic wasn’t bad.
The light turned green but the car in front
didn’t move. Mortell hit the horn.
His wife jumped. “Don’t honk!” she said.
“Why not?” he asked.
“Don’t you know that they don’t honk their
horns up here?”
“I said to myself, I don’t care, I’ve got to
move them along,” Mortell recalled 11 years
later from the Scranton office of Cigna Healthcare, where he now works as the financial operations manager. “I grew up in New Jersey
and lived on Long Island and that’s part of the
culture. When I thought about it, I realized
what she said was true. The people here have
more patience. They are a gentler, kinder
breed.”
a region of choice
When you think Northeast...
Think Penn’s Northeast!
www.pennsnortheast.com
If
If
If
you’re seeking a location close to major markets on
the East Coast…
you could benefit from a skilled and innovative
workforce…
you’d like a more affordable way of doing business…
Call us. We have what you’re looking for.
1-800-317-1313 • info@pennsnortheast.com
p
Since then, Mortell has seen the light, moving from finance to insurance, building a
home and setting down roots. He volunteers
with the American Heart Association and
Luzerne is the only
county in the
United States with
the majority
of citizens
reporting Polish as
their primary ancestry.
The majority of
Pennsylvanians claim
to be German or
Pennsylvania Dutch.
joined the board of directors of Scranton Tomorrow and United Way of Lackawanna
County. He coaches baseball, basketball, and
Located near Wilkes-Barre in Luzerne County, Harvey’s Lake
is Pennsylvania’s largest natural lake, and largely a private residential area.
In its Victorian-era heyday the lake was
a bustling public playground.
accent
sp onsored
sec t i on
soccer. He doesn’t honk anymore.
“When I heard Scranton, it was kind of a
shock that the bank was going there because it
was out of the norm at the time. But my wife
found it easy to make friends. The people were
very friendly and willing to help. The location,
the lower cost of living, the high quality of the
workforce. . . . In a way, I think it’s an area that
is undiscovered.”
Not anymore. Northeast PA is seeing an
unprecedented boom in investment and people. In Scranton, Mayor Christopher Doherty
is presiding over a transformation that since
2001 has seen the city invest more than $125
million in new construction and the rehabilitation of historic structures. The city landed
the national headquarters of Southern Union,
a major national gas pipeline operator, and
VaxServe, a division of vaccine-maker Sanofi
Pasteur.
Scranton is also attracting new jobs, reversing a trend with the creation of more than
2,000 new positions since 2002.
“Our attitude is changing,” said Sara Hailstone, executive director of Scranton’s Office
of Economic and Community Development.
“Our attitude says, ‘Yes we can.’ Our small
businesses are growing. People are investing
in them. They believe.”
In Wilkes-Barre, the city has launched
some $500 million in new projects, including
a multimillion dollar renovation called the
Quick Facts
1. Industry meets tourism. Northeast Pennsylvania is about 2 hours west/northwest
of Manhattan. Penn’s Northeast, a regional economic development agency that
recruits business to the region, represents five counties including Lackawanna and
Luzerne (home to the traditionally industrialized communities of Scranton, Pittston,
Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, and Berwick) and Monroe, Pike, and Wayne (in the Pocono
Mountains, known for tourism and resort venues).
2. Bulking up. The U.S. Census Bureau calls the East Stroudsburg Micropolitan Area
the third fastest growing medium-sized region in the country for 2000–2003.
Monroe County’s population grew by 11.4 percent to 154,000. A separate survey by
East Stroudsburg University found one-quarter of the county’s workforce commutes
outside the county (9,000 to New Jersey, 4,000 to New York State).
3. River dance. Wilkes-Barre built levies to protect the city. Now it wants to tunnel
through them. The $30 million Susquehanna River Landing project will reconnect the
downtown and riverfront with two 60-ft.-wide portals drilled through the barrier.
Sponsors envision a public area similar to Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia featuring
museum, performance, convocation and commercial space.
sp on s ore d
se c t i on
a region of choice
W
e’re Penn’s Northeast – your single point of contact
for award-winning site-selection assistance in
Northeast Pennsylvania.
Our professional and confidential support team will provide
you with detailed information about our region’s talented
work force and job training, grant and loan programs.
We also offer the area’s only comprehensive, online,
searchable database for office and industrial sites and
facilities.
hil Mortell’s life changed
with the traffic light on
Northern Boulevard. A
controller with NatWest
on Long Island, Mortell
had just moved his wife
and three children to Clarks
Summit. Between launching a new
operation and moving to a new home,
it had been a hectic month.
The first time the family explored the region, the drive had been long—3 hours and 10
minutes to cover the 178 miles from North
Babylon to this suburb of Scranton. But all
roads seemed to lead to Northeast Pennsylvania and the traffic wasn’t bad.
The light turned green but the car in front
didn’t move. Mortell hit the horn.
His wife jumped. “Don’t honk!” she said.
“Why not?” he asked.
“Don’t you know that they don’t honk their
horns up here?”
“I said to myself, I don’t care, I’ve got to
move them along,” Mortell recalled 11 years
later from the Scranton office of Cigna Healthcare, where he now works as the financial operations manager. “I grew up in New Jersey
and lived on Long Island and that’s part of the
culture. When I thought about it, I realized
what she said was true. The people here have
more patience. They are a gentler, kinder
breed.”
a region of choice
When you think Northeast...
Think Penn’s Northeast!
www.pennsnortheast.com
If
If
If
you’re seeking a location close to major markets on
the East Coast…
you could benefit from a skilled and innovative
workforce…
you’d like a more affordable way of doing business…
Call us. We have what you’re looking for.
1-800-317-1313 • info@pennsnortheast.com
a region of choice
accent
sp onsored
sec t i on
sp on s ore d
se c t i on
Work Hard
a region of choice
Left photo courtesy of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce
right photo courtesy of the Luzerne County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Play Hard
IN
WILKES-BARRE ,
P E N N S Y L V A N I A
In the Greater Wilkes-Barre area, we’re proud
of our reputation for working and playing hard.
We’re one of the best hockey cities in the AHL,
and a destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Our diverse skills and legendary work ethic
have made us a premier business destination.
From semiconductors to aerospace components,
advanced manufacturers to information
technology, companies find the skills they
need in Wilkes-Barre.
We feature five highly ranked colleges and
universities, an unbeatable quality of life,
and we’re within 500 miles of 80 percent
of the nation’s buying power.
The St. Patrick’s Day parade in Scranton is considered the fourth-largest in the nation. Presented by the St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Association of Lackawanna County, it’s been an annual event since 1862. Hot air ballooning is popular in warm-weather months.
The 1973 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play
That Championship Season by Jason Miller portrayed
the fictional lives of a real Scranton basketball team
that won the 1957 state championship.
Theaters at Northampton & Main and a $160
million redevelopment of the waterfront along
the Susquehanna River.
In the private sector, the Wachovia Arena
hosts a full schedule of concerts, events, and
trade shows. Student loan provider Sallie Mae
is shifting 150 information technology jobs to
its 700-person loan-processing facility here.
The industrial sector, once the backbone
of the region, has rebounded. One example:
from 1989-2004, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeast Pennsylvania, an
agent of resource transfer to emerging business, created and retained 7,200 jobs and
started 35 companies throughout the region.
To the south, the Pocono Mountains are
watching a steady stream of city dwellers from
New Jersey and New York turn Pike and
Monroe into the fastest growing counties in
Pennsylvania, according to the U.S. Census
Bureau.
“The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area has come
into its own in the last couple of years following a period when we were forced to reinvent
ourselves,” said Stephen Barrouk, president
and CEO of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry.
Northeast Pennsylvania now sports a diverse economy that includes electronics,
printing, logistics, financial services, healthcare, and tourism. The key to that transition
lies in two areas, both typified by people like
Phil Mortell: logistics and people.
“Just look at a map of Pennsylvania,” said
Jim Cummings, president of Penn’s Northeast,
the lead economic development agency in the
region, “and you’ll see that Northeast PA is
where Interstates 80, 81, 84, 380, and 476 come
together. We have more than 30 million square
feet of pure logistics space. Businesses here
can easily serve an area stretching from Maine
to Virginia to Ohio.”
Cummings said this strategic location has
triggered a slew of land development deals in
recent years. “Developers have stepped up to
give us the most developed business park
acreage we’ve ever had. We are ready for
all kinds of office and industrial projects, no
matter the size.”
Developments along the interstate corridors have led the way. “Hazleton is practically
exploding with new construction, due in large
part to the development of the Humboldt
Industrial Park near the intersection of I-81
and I-80. The new CenterPoint and Commerce Trade Park East near Pittston and Valley View Business Park near Scranton give us
nearly 2,000 acres with tax abatements. And
along I-84, the Sterling Business Park in
Wayne County and Pike County Business
Park are two excellent choices for companies
wishing to serve New York State and New
England.”
Visit Greater Wilkes-Barre. We’ll knock you out…
in a nice way, of course.
HAZLETON AD
10/28/05
1:33 PM
Page 1
Aiming
Northeast?
for
the
Target your business
in Hazleton, PA
Greater Hazleton is a bull’s-eye for business
and industry aiming at the Northeast.
We’re strategically located at the crossroads of
Interstates 80 and 81 for easy access to major
metro areas such as New York, Philadelphia,
Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Boston.
We offer a sizable labor force with a strong work
ethic and a wide range of talents to fit almost any
industry’s needs.
You’ll enjoy the benefits of easy access to major
markets in the Northeast without the “major market”
expenses.
Plainly speaking, Greater Hazleton is really on target.
Phone: 1.800.54.CANDO 570.455.1508
Email: cando@hazletoncando.com
Web: www.hazletoncando.com
(570) 823-2101
wbcofc@wilkes-barre.org
www.wilkes-barre.org/ed
a region of choice
accent
sp onsored
sec t i on
sp on s ore d
se c t i on
Work Hard
a region of choice
Left photo courtesy of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce
right photo courtesy of the Luzerne County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Play Hard
IN
WILKES-BARRE ,
P E N N S Y L V A N I A
In the Greater Wilkes-Barre area, we’re proud
of our reputation for working and playing hard.
We’re one of the best hockey cities in the AHL,
and a destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Our diverse skills and legendary work ethic
have made us a premier business destination.
From semiconductors to aerospace components,
advanced manufacturers to information
technology, companies find the skills they
need in Wilkes-Barre.
We feature five highly ranked colleges and
universities, an unbeatable quality of life,
and we’re within 500 miles of 80 percent
of the nation’s buying power.
The St. Patrick’s Day parade in Scranton is considered the fourth-largest in the nation. Presented by the St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Association of Lackawanna County, it’s been an annual event since 1862. Hot air ballooning is popular in warm-weather months.
The 1973 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play
That Championship Season by Jason Miller portrayed
the fictional lives of a real Scranton basketball team
that won the 1957 state championship.
Theaters at Northampton & Main and a $160
million redevelopment of the waterfront along
the Susquehanna River.
In the private sector, the Wachovia Arena
hosts a full schedule of concerts, events, and
trade shows. Student loan provider Sallie Mae
is shifting 150 information technology jobs to
its 700-person loan-processing facility here.
The industrial sector, once the backbone
of the region, has rebounded. One example:
from 1989-2004, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeast Pennsylvania, an
agent of resource transfer to emerging business, created and retained 7,200 jobs and
started 35 companies throughout the region.
To the south, the Pocono Mountains are
watching a steady stream of city dwellers from
New Jersey and New York turn Pike and
Monroe into the fastest growing counties in
Pennsylvania, according to the U.S. Census
Bureau.
“The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area has come
into its own in the last couple of years following a period when we were forced to reinvent
ourselves,” said Stephen Barrouk, president
and CEO of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry.
Northeast Pennsylvania now sports a diverse economy that includes electronics,
printing, logistics, financial services, healthcare, and tourism. The key to that transition
lies in two areas, both typified by people like
Phil Mortell: logistics and people.
“Just look at a map of Pennsylvania,” said
Jim Cummings, president of Penn’s Northeast,
the lead economic development agency in the
region, “and you’ll see that Northeast PA is
where Interstates 80, 81, 84, 380, and 476 come
together. We have more than 30 million square
feet of pure logistics space. Businesses here
can easily serve an area stretching from Maine
to Virginia to Ohio.”
Cummings said this strategic location has
triggered a slew of land development deals in
recent years. “Developers have stepped up to
give us the most developed business park
acreage we’ve ever had. We are ready for
all kinds of office and industrial projects, no
matter the size.”
Developments along the interstate corridors have led the way. “Hazleton is practically
exploding with new construction, due in large
part to the development of the Humboldt
Industrial Park near the intersection of I-81
and I-80. The new CenterPoint and Commerce Trade Park East near Pittston and Valley View Business Park near Scranton give us
nearly 2,000 acres with tax abatements. And
along I-84, the Sterling Business Park in
Wayne County and Pike County Business
Park are two excellent choices for companies
wishing to serve New York State and New
England.”
Visit Greater Wilkes-Barre. We’ll knock you out…
in a nice way, of course.
HAZLETON AD
10/28/05
1:33 PM
Page 1
Aiming
Northeast?
for
the
Target your business
in Hazleton, PA
Greater Hazleton is a bull’s-eye for business
and industry aiming at the Northeast.
We’re strategically located at the crossroads of
Interstates 80 and 81 for easy access to major
metro areas such as New York, Philadelphia,
Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Boston.
We offer a sizable labor force with a strong work
ethic and a wide range of talents to fit almost any
industry’s needs.
You’ll enjoy the benefits of easy access to major
markets in the Northeast without the “major market”
expenses.
Plainly speaking, Greater Hazleton is really on target.
Phone: 1.800.54.CANDO 570.455.1508
Email: cando@hazletoncando.com
Web: www.hazletoncando.com
(570) 823-2101
wbcofc@wilkes-barre.org
www.wilkes-barre.org/ed
Governor Rendell Has
Big Plans For Pennsylvania
—And So Do We.
“Pennsylvania is aggressively competing for new jobs and
business investment…we are using our resources and unique
economic development tools to not only help existing companies
expand, but also to prepare for future growth by making sure
we have sites ready to meet business needs.”
—Governor Ed Rendell
Enacting a Plan for a New Pennsylvania.
Extending the Boundaries of Business.
Vision. Strategy. Action.Whether the CEO of a successful business or
the Governor of a growing state, that's the formula that makes a
truly great leader. In 2002, Pennsylvania elected a great leader,
who is turning his vision of a new, more business-friendly, more
globally-competitive Pennsylvania into a reality. Governor Ed Rendell's
Stimulus Package is one of the most comprehensive and flexible
financing initiatives in the country, with $2.3 billion to jumpstart
economic development opportunities across the state. By partnering
When you take your business to CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park, you take it to the next level.With
approximately 900 acres adjacent to Interstate 81, at the heart of the Boston-Washington Corridor,
CenterPoint is a new park with pad-ready sites and buildings accommodating 6,000 to 1,200,000 SF of space
being privately developed by Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services—the largest commercial/industrial
real estate developer in Northeast Pennsylvania. CenterPoint can extend your company’s capabilities with
incentives that include an unbeatable location, Foreign Trade Zone Status, and tax exemptions that are
already in place. Still wrestling with decisions about business location? Get to the Point—CenterPoint.
with private developers like Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services,
whose new CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park will bring 2,500 jobs
to Northeast PA with the completion of its first phase alone,
Governor Rendell continues to demonstrate his commitment to
creating jobs, bolstering business growth and revitalizing our
communities. If you're looking for a business location that will give
your company a competitive edge, Pennsylvania is the place for
you—and we've got the formula to prove it.
Call Mericle today at 1-800-MERICLE or visit us at www.mericle.com.
by
Building Solutions to Suit You.
Governor Rendell Has
Big Plans For Pennsylvania
—And So Do We.
“Pennsylvania is aggressively competing for new jobs and
business investment…we are using our resources and unique
economic development tools to not only help existing companies
expand, but also to prepare for future growth by making sure
we have sites ready to meet business needs.”
—Governor Ed Rendell
Enacting a Plan for a New Pennsylvania.
Extending the Boundaries of Business.
Vision. Strategy. Action.Whether the CEO of a successful business or
the Governor of a growing state, that's the formula that makes a
truly great leader. In 2002, Pennsylvania elected a great leader,
who is turning his vision of a new, more business-friendly, more
globally-competitive Pennsylvania into a reality. Governor Ed Rendell's
Stimulus Package is one of the most comprehensive and flexible
financing initiatives in the country, with $2.3 billion to jumpstart
economic development opportunities across the state. By partnering
When you take your business to CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park, you take it to the next level.With
approximately 900 acres adjacent to Interstate 81, at the heart of the Boston-Washington Corridor,
CenterPoint is a new park with pad-ready sites and buildings accommodating 6,000 to 1,200,000 SF of space
being privately developed by Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services—the largest commercial/industrial
real estate developer in Northeast Pennsylvania. CenterPoint can extend your company’s capabilities with
incentives that include an unbeatable location, Foreign Trade Zone Status, and tax exemptions that are
already in place. Still wrestling with decisions about business location? Get to the Point—CenterPoint.
with private developers like Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services,
whose new CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park will bring 2,500 jobs
to Northeast PA with the completion of its first phase alone,
Governor Rendell continues to demonstrate his commitment to
creating jobs, bolstering business growth and revitalizing our
communities. If you're looking for a business location that will give
your company a competitive edge, Pennsylvania is the place for
you—and we've got the formula to prove it.
Call Mericle today at 1-800-MERICLE or visit us at www.mericle.com.
by
a region of choice
AVA I L A B L E S P E C BU I L D I N G S :
accent
sp onsored
sec t i on
Allow Us to Speculate.
top left photo courtesy of the luzerne county convention and
visitors bureau;Top Right photo courtesy of runphotos.com
Left: Pocono Downs features live harness racing (SJ’s Cavier pictured) from April through November on a 5/8-mile racetrack located in Wilkes-Barre.
Right: On the Sunday before Columbus Day, more than 1,500 runners from throughout the world compete in the Steamtown Marathon,
a USATF-certified, point-to-point, 26.2-mile marathon than begins in Forest City and passes through 14 Northeast PA communities
before finishing on Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton.
Cummings said a key to the region’s success
is its history of hard work and service. “It’s the
people,” Cummings said, offering the story
of Phil Mortell’s community involvement to
illustrate the point. “It’s the quality of the
workforce. I know every economic development person says their people have a great
work ethic, but it’s really true here.”
His life is a case in point. “I grew up in
Scranton. My grandfathers worked in the coal
mines and on the railroad. I learned from
a very young age what hard work meant
and I saw the sacrifices that were made to
build this region. This is a great place to bring
up kids. There are good schools and low crime
and housing is still relatively affordable. The
pace is right. It’s easy to make friends here.”
Scranton’s Hailstone offered another illus-
tration, one about her grandfather.
“In 1940, when there was no work here,
my grandfather went from Scranton to
Bridgeport, Connecticut, and stood in a long
line of men looking for work. Somebody came
out of the plant and yelled, ‘Who’s from Scranton?’ Those men stepped out of line. The guy
then said, ‘The rest of you can go home.’
It speaks volumes about our reputation.”
CTE gives until it helps. Michael Mahoney believes in building more than networks. The president and CEO of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises (CTE)
likes to build the community as well.
“CTE is committed to enhancing the quality of life where we do business,” Mahoney said. “This long-standing commitment extends to company-endorsed
employee volunteer efforts specifically for the United Way and the American Cancer Society,” Mahoney said.
CTE gives resources in four categories. Education and the arts, health and welfare organizations, emergency services and
community organizations. That brings him to another of his favorite topics: the employees.
“CTE is one of the largest contributors to the economy of Northeast Pennsylvania. We employ nearly 1,200 individuals.
CTE’s workforce has produced a record of operational and financial performance that has placed us among the most
efficient wireline telephone operations in the industry.”
Service helps. Mahoney said the company’s local exchange carrier, Commonwealth Telephone Company, “has achieved
the lowest level of justified complaints in the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s annual report for seven consecutive years, and 13 of the last 15 years.”
Technology helps, too. “We offer a full array of advanced telecommunications products and services, including broadband data services and high-speed Internet access. These services are delivered over our robust, redundant, 100 percent
digitally switched, fiber-rich network.”
CTE
396,800 SF can be expanded to 644,800 SF and is the
first big box construction in the new CenterPoint
Commerce & Trade Park. Expect Mericle Max
Advantages and unparalleled access to I-81 and I-476.
This site has Foreign Trade Zone status and
tax-exemptions already in place.
210,000 SF light industrial building can be subdivided
to 105,000 SF and expanded to 504,000 SF. This
building is KOZ-Approved, tax-free until 12/31/10, and
has existing rail service on site.
140,800 SF multi-tenant building located in the Jessup
Small Business Center can be subdivided into 6,000 SF
spaces. KOEZ-Approved, tax-free until 12/31/13.
Real Estate can be risky, but it can also be rewarding. Making the right decisions makes all the
difference. At Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, we’re willing to take some risks so
that our clients won’t have to, and that’s been no small part of our success in becoming
Northeastern Pennsylvania’s largest commercial and industrial developer. Currently we have
newly constructed spec opportunities ranging from a 128,000 SF multi-tenant building to
light industrial buildings that vary in size from 210,000 SF to 1,200,000 SF. Start on our spec
and end on yours.That’s one way Mericle takes away your risk and increases your rewards.
1-800-MERICLE
visit
Project1Call
11/7/05
4:26 PM or
Page
1 www.mericle.com today to learn more.
Quick Facts
501,600 SF state-of-the-art cross-docked building
can be subdivided to 250,800 SF or expanded to
1,000,000 SF. KOEZ-Approved, tax-free until 12/31/13.
a region of choice
AVA I L A B L E S P E C BU I L D I N G S :
accent
sp onsored
sec t i on
Allow Us to Speculate.
top left photo courtesy of the luzerne county convention and
visitors bureau;Top Right photo courtesy of runphotos.com
Left: Pocono Downs features live harness racing (SJ’s Cavier pictured) from April through November on a 5/8-mile racetrack located in Wilkes-Barre.
Right: On the Sunday before Columbus Day, more than 1,500 runners from throughout the world compete in the Steamtown Marathon,
a USATF-certified, point-to-point, 26.2-mile marathon than begins in Forest City and passes through 14 Northeast PA communities
before finishing on Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton.
Cummings said a key to the region’s success
is its history of hard work and service. “It’s the
people,” Cummings said, offering the story
of Phil Mortell’s community involvement to
illustrate the point. “It’s the quality of the
workforce. I know every economic development person says their people have a great
work ethic, but it’s really true here.”
His life is a case in point. “I grew up in
Scranton. My grandfathers worked in the coal
mines and on the railroad. I learned from
a very young age what hard work meant
and I saw the sacrifices that were made to
build this region. This is a great place to bring
up kids. There are good schools and low crime
and housing is still relatively affordable. The
pace is right. It’s easy to make friends here.”
Scranton’s Hailstone offered another illus-
tration, one about her grandfather.
“In 1940, when there was no work here,
my grandfather went from Scranton to
Bridgeport, Connecticut, and stood in a long
line of men looking for work. Somebody came
out of the plant and yelled, ‘Who’s from Scranton?’ Those men stepped out of line. The guy
then said, ‘The rest of you can go home.’
It speaks volumes about our reputation.”
CTE gives until it helps. Michael Mahoney believes in building more than networks. The president and CEO of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises (CTE)
likes to build the community as well.
“CTE is committed to enhancing the quality of life where we do business,” Mahoney said. “This long-standing commitment extends to company-endorsed
employee volunteer efforts specifically for the United Way and the American Cancer Society,” Mahoney said.
CTE gives resources in four categories. Education and the arts, health and welfare organizations, emergency services and
community organizations. That brings him to another of his favorite topics: the employees.
“CTE is one of the largest contributors to the economy of Northeast Pennsylvania. We employ nearly 1,200 individuals.
CTE’s workforce has produced a record of operational and financial performance that has placed us among the most
efficient wireline telephone operations in the industry.”
Service helps. Mahoney said the company’s local exchange carrier, Commonwealth Telephone Company, “has achieved
the lowest level of justified complaints in the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s annual report for seven consecutive years, and 13 of the last 15 years.”
Technology helps, too. “We offer a full array of advanced telecommunications products and services, including broadband data services and high-speed Internet access. These services are delivered over our robust, redundant, 100 percent
digitally switched, fiber-rich network.”
CTE
396,800 SF can be expanded to 644,800 SF and is the
first big box construction in the new CenterPoint
Commerce & Trade Park. Expect Mericle Max
Advantages and unparalleled access to I-81 and I-476.
This site has Foreign Trade Zone status and
tax-exemptions already in place.
210,000 SF light industrial building can be subdivided
to 105,000 SF and expanded to 504,000 SF. This
building is KOZ-Approved, tax-free until 12/31/10, and
has existing rail service on site.
140,800 SF multi-tenant building located in the Jessup
Small Business Center can be subdivided into 6,000 SF
spaces. KOEZ-Approved, tax-free until 12/31/13.
Real Estate can be risky, but it can also be rewarding. Making the right decisions makes all the
difference. At Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, we’re willing to take some risks so
that our clients won’t have to, and that’s been no small part of our success in becoming
Northeastern Pennsylvania’s largest commercial and industrial developer. Currently we have
newly constructed spec opportunities ranging from a 128,000 SF multi-tenant building to
light industrial buildings that vary in size from 210,000 SF to 1,200,000 SF. Start on our spec
and end on yours.That’s one way Mericle takes away your risk and increases your rewards.
1-800-MERICLE
visit
Project1Call
11/7/05
4:26 PM or
Page
1 www.mericle.com today to learn more.
Quick Facts
501,600 SF state-of-the-art cross-docked building
can be subdivided to 250,800 SF or expanded to
1,000,000 SF. KOEZ-Approved, tax-free until 12/31/13.
n e p e n n s y lva n i a
a region of choice
Grant V Faint / getty images
FOREVER YOUNG
accent
sp onsored
sec t i on
old is new again
in Northeast PA
SYS-E 448
From 1912 to ‘15,
the Delaware,
Lackawanna &
Western Railroad
constructed a
2,375-foot-long by
240-foot-high
viaduct across
the valley in
Nicholson.
key
industry
and
commerce
L
U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski estimates that relocating a 500-employee
business unit from the New York/New Jersey metro area to
Northeast PA would save it more than $83 million over the first
five years in taxes, payroll, and real estate. Assuming a location
within a tax-friendly Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone,
savings would reach $165 million by the end of 2013.
ike Phil Mortell, Kristopher Jones was in a jam. Armed with advanced degrees in business and law, he wanted to return to his native Wilkes-Barre to
be near his family. He also wanted to create an innovative business that would
attract other young entrepreneurs. For a time, the two desires appeared mutually
exclusive. Then he woke up and smelled . . . the pepper.
With a recipe he’d inherited from his grandmother, Jones started a gourmet food
company called Grandma Jones’ Pepperjam. In learning how to sell his product,
he explored the emerging field of Internet marketing. Armed with that knowledge,
he began to market other company’s products and services through online search
engines.
Today, the Pepperjam Network has eight employees and operates pepperjamSEARCH, offering e-commerce solutions such as search-engine optimization and
paid search-engine placement to more than 1,500 companies. Jones is also recognized by the chambers of commerce of both Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre as an innovator, receiving the chambers’ Great Valley Young Entrepreneur Award for 2005.
Now 30 with a thriving business and a fiancée, the former senior staff member to
U.S. Rep Paul Kanjorski (D-PA) believes the region has a lot to offer entrepreneurs
11/7/05
1:25 PM
Page 1
WHEN IT COMES TO THE VERY BEST HEALTH CARE FOR YOU
AND YOUR LOVED ONES, the region’s leader was, is and will
continue to be Wyoming Valley Health Care System. Here’s why:
MORE PHYSICIANS. MORE MEDICAL SPECIALTIES:
A medical staff comprising more than 400 highly talented, broadly skilled
physicians – representing nearly 50 medical and surgical specialties.
P A S T.
THE LARGEST AND FINEST REGIONAL HOSPITAL:
Wilkes-Barre General Hospital is Northeastern Pennsylvania’s most
comprehensive health care facility, with services including:
FUTURE.
• A bigger, better Emergency Room that treats over 50,000
ER visits annually.
• The Heart and Vascular Institute at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital –
cardiovascular care on a par with the finest available anywhere.
• The Nesbitt Women’s and Children’s Center: The region’s
most comprehensive obstetric, gynecological and
pediatric care.
• The region’s most extensive and comprehensive surgery
offerings, including an orthopaedics program led by
the region’s largest and most experienced team.
• The region’s most extensive oncology program,
with inpatient and outpatient cancer therapies
unmatched in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
WHEN IT COMES TO REGIONAL HEALTH CARE...
IN ALL WAYS WE LEAD THE WAY. ALWAYS.
P R E S E N T.
The Health Care
Leader in
Northeastern
Pennsylvania...
wvhcs.org
a region of choice
Grant V Faint / getty images
FOREVER YOUNG
accent
sp onsored
sec t i on
old is new again
in Northeast PA
SYS-E 448
From 1912 to ‘15,
the Delaware,
Lackawanna &
Western Railroad
constructed a
2,375-foot-long by
240-foot-high
viaduct across
the valley in
Nicholson.
key
industry
and
commerce
L
U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski estimates that relocating a 500-employee
business unit from the New York/New Jersey metro area to
Northeast PA would save it more than $83 million over the first
five years in taxes, payroll, and real estate. Assuming a location
within a tax-friendly Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone,
savings would reach $165 million by the end of 2013.
ike Phil Mortell, Kristopher Jones was in a jam. Armed with advanced degrees in business and law, he wanted to return to his native Wilkes-Barre to
be near his family. He also wanted to create an innovative business that would
attract other young entrepreneurs. For a time, the two desires appeared mutually
exclusive. Then he woke up and smelled . . . the pepper.
With a recipe he’d inherited from his grandmother, Jones started a gourmet food
company called Grandma Jones’ Pepperjam. In learning how to sell his product,
he explored the emerging field of Internet marketing. Armed with that knowledge,
he began to market other company’s products and services through online search
engines.
Today, the Pepperjam Network has eight employees and operates pepperjamSEARCH, offering e-commerce solutions such as search-engine optimization and
paid search-engine placement to more than 1,500 companies. Jones is also recognized by the chambers of commerce of both Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre as an innovator, receiving the chambers’ Great Valley Young Entrepreneur Award for 2005.
Now 30 with a thriving business and a fiancée, the former senior staff member to
U.S. Rep Paul Kanjorski (D-PA) believes the region has a lot to offer entrepreneurs
11/7/05
1:25 PM
Page 1
WHEN IT COMES TO THE VERY BEST HEALTH CARE FOR YOU
AND YOUR LOVED ONES, the region’s leader was, is and will
continue to be Wyoming Valley Health Care System. Here’s why:
MORE PHYSICIANS. MORE MEDICAL SPECIALTIES:
A medical staff comprising more than 400 highly talented, broadly skilled
physicians – representing nearly 50 medical and surgical specialties.
P A S T.
THE LARGEST AND FINEST REGIONAL HOSPITAL:
Wilkes-Barre General Hospital is Northeastern Pennsylvania’s most
comprehensive health care facility, with services including:
FUTURE.
• A bigger, better Emergency Room that treats over 50,000
ER visits annually.
• The Heart and Vascular Institute at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital –
cardiovascular care on a par with the finest available anywhere.
• The Nesbitt Women’s and Children’s Center: The region’s
most comprehensive obstetric, gynecological and
pediatric care.
• The region’s most extensive and comprehensive surgery
offerings, including an orthopaedics program led by
the region’s largest and most experienced team.
• The region’s most extensive oncology program,
with inpatient and outpatient cancer therapies
unmatched in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
WHEN IT COMES TO REGIONAL HEALTH CARE...
IN ALL WAYS WE LEAD THE WAY. ALWAYS.
P R E S E N T.
The Health Care
Leader in
Northeastern
Pennsylvania...
wvhcs.org
Quick Facts
and the arts and entertainment.
Looking to diversity even further, the region is courting a wide range of business, including plastics, technology and back-office
operations. The latter is especially critical to
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau,
the average commute
in Luzerne County
is 21 minutes. The
average travel
time to work in
Lackawanna County
is 20 minutes.
the future of the region, according to Congressman Kanjorski, who co-authored a
white paper on providing back-up financial
sec t i on
operations outside the terrorist strike zone
with Jim Cummings, president of economic
development agency Penn’s Northeast,
among others.
Following the events of Sept. 11, 2001,
three federal agencies—the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission—set a goal of ensuring that “key organizations in critical financial markets are able
to recover clearing and settlement activities
in the event of a wide-scale disruption as rapidly as possible.”
The agencies want firms to have “an appropriate level of geographic diversity between primary and back-up sites” and warn
that backup sites “should not rely on the
same infrastructure components (e.g., transportation, telecommunications, water supply
and electric power) used by the primary
site.”
Enter Northeast Pennsylvania, about 2
hours from Wall Street by car. “The . . . region
offers a viable solution for those financial
services companies needing to relocate part
of their functions out of the New York/New
Jersey metro area,” the white paper states.
“The region is just 70-140 miles from Manhattan yet is located in a different power grid,
telecommunications grid and watershed.
Penn’s Northeast’s five counties and 765,000
Phillies 1st baseman Ryan Howard. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Red Barons are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies
and the only Triple-A team in the state of Pennsylvania.
Current Phillies stars Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins,
Pat Burrell, and Brett Myers all wore the Red Barons uniform.
The Red Barons play at the beautiful Lackawanna County Stadium
nestled at the base of picturesque Montage Mountain.
1. Up, up, and away. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP) in Avoca has a runway longer
than that of LaGuardia International Airport in New York. AVP can accommodate both large and small
aircraft. The C-5A Galaxy has landed at AVP, along with an Air Force One 747 and the larger MD80 and
737 that provide regularly scheduled jet service daily.
2. Riding the rails. Once dominant in the area (think Phoebe Snow and the Lackawanna Railroad),
passenger service from Scranton to Hoboken, New Jersey, may return in the next decade. The Lackawanna
Cutoff project will connect to ferry boats, subway trains or buses in Hoboken that travelers can take into
New York City. The trip is expected to take 2½ hours.
3. Driving commerce. Commuting to Manhattan is possible, but time estimates vary. MapQuest
says Stroudsburg (Pocono Mountains) is 78 miles and 1:20 hours away; Scranton, 2:06; and
Wilkes-Barre, 2:15. According to Martz Trailways (martztrailways.com), the commute is a bit
longer—1:35 hours from Stroudsburg, 2:45 from Scranton, and 3:15 from Wilkes-Barre. Locals
(poconocommuter.com) budget 2.5 hours a day each way from Stroudsburg.
accent
sp onsored
FACILITATE. RECREATE. CELEBRATE.
The Pocono Mountains–the perfect place to hold your next
company meeting. With more than a dozen state-of-the-art
facilities, over 8000 rooms, challenging recreation and
more–it's picture perfect.
photo courtesy of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
of any age.
“There are a number of things that are attractive to young professionals, such as the
Wachovia Arena and Lackawanna County
Stadium. We are also a hub when it comes to
access to college students. Traditionally these
students took their education and moved
to other areas. Today there are more opportunities for well-educated young people who
are motivated and who want a good quality
of life.”
The region already has some heavy-hitters. Companies like Hilton Reservations
Worldwide, Unilever, Sanofi Pasteur, The
Prudential, Highlights for Children, Altec
Lansing, Wise Foods, and Penguin Putman
call the place home. But the experience of the
last century, with its reliance on heavy industry and the military, has taught the region a
lesson in diversity.
Today, the top industries in Luzerne
County are healthcare and social assistance
(21,000 workers), manufacturing (20,000)
and retail trade (18,000), according to the
U.S. Census Bureau. Neighboring Lackawanna County sports similar ratios, with
healthcare employing 25 percent more workers than the next nearest industry, manufacturing. In the Poconos, the ratios change to
reflect the region’s focus on tourism: Monroe
County’s top industries are retail trade, accommodation and food services, healthcare
a region of choice
• New & beautiful resorts, plus $100+million in renovations
• 35 high quality choices for golf
• So close to NYC and Philadelphia metro areas
Exciting recreation possibilities every season of the year.
Call 1-800-722-9199 or visit poconomeetings.com.
Send an email to groupsandmeetings@poconos.org for
more information.
1.800.722.9199
Pocono Mountains Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.,
1004 Main Street, Box USAA, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
Quick Facts
and the arts and entertainment.
Looking to diversity even further, the region is courting a wide range of business, including plastics, technology and back-office
operations. The latter is especially critical to
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau,
the average commute
in Luzerne County
is 21 minutes. The
average travel
time to work in
Lackawanna County
is 20 minutes.
the future of the region, according to Congressman Kanjorski, who co-authored a
white paper on providing back-up financial
sec t i on
operations outside the terrorist strike zone
with Jim Cummings, president of economic
development agency Penn’s Northeast,
among others.
Following the events of Sept. 11, 2001,
three federal agencies—the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission—set a goal of ensuring that “key organizations in critical financial markets are able
to recover clearing and settlement activities
in the event of a wide-scale disruption as rapidly as possible.”
The agencies want firms to have “an appropriate level of geographic diversity between primary and back-up sites” and warn
that backup sites “should not rely on the
same infrastructure components (e.g., transportation, telecommunications, water supply
and electric power) used by the primary
site.”
Enter Northeast Pennsylvania, about 2
hours from Wall Street by car. “The . . . region
offers a viable solution for those financial
services companies needing to relocate part
of their functions out of the New York/New
Jersey metro area,” the white paper states.
“The region is just 70-140 miles from Manhattan yet is located in a different power grid,
telecommunications grid and watershed.
Penn’s Northeast’s five counties and 765,000
Phillies 1st baseman Ryan Howard. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Red Barons are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies
and the only Triple-A team in the state of Pennsylvania.
Current Phillies stars Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins,
Pat Burrell, and Brett Myers all wore the Red Barons uniform.
The Red Barons play at the beautiful Lackawanna County Stadium
nestled at the base of picturesque Montage Mountain.
1. Up, up, and away. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP) in Avoca has a runway longer
than that of LaGuardia International Airport in New York. AVP can accommodate both large and small
aircraft. The C-5A Galaxy has landed at AVP, along with an Air Force One 747 and the larger MD80 and
737 that provide regularly scheduled jet service daily.
2. Riding the rails. Once dominant in the area (think Phoebe Snow and the Lackawanna Railroad),
passenger service from Scranton to Hoboken, New Jersey, may return in the next decade. The Lackawanna
Cutoff project will connect to ferry boats, subway trains or buses in Hoboken that travelers can take into
New York City. The trip is expected to take 2½ hours.
3. Driving commerce. Commuting to Manhattan is possible, but time estimates vary. MapQuest
says Stroudsburg (Pocono Mountains) is 78 miles and 1:20 hours away; Scranton, 2:06; and
Wilkes-Barre, 2:15. According to Martz Trailways (martztrailways.com), the commute is a bit
longer—1:35 hours from Stroudsburg, 2:45 from Scranton, and 3:15 from Wilkes-Barre. Locals
(poconocommuter.com) budget 2.5 hours a day each way from Stroudsburg.
accent
sp onsored
FACILITATE. RECREATE. CELEBRATE.
The Pocono Mountains–the perfect place to hold your next
company meeting. With more than a dozen state-of-the-art
facilities, over 8000 rooms, challenging recreation and
more–it's picture perfect.
photo courtesy of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
of any age.
“There are a number of things that are attractive to young professionals, such as the
Wachovia Arena and Lackawanna County
Stadium. We are also a hub when it comes to
access to college students. Traditionally these
students took their education and moved
to other areas. Today there are more opportunities for well-educated young people who
are motivated and who want a good quality
of life.”
The region already has some heavy-hitters. Companies like Hilton Reservations
Worldwide, Unilever, Sanofi Pasteur, The
Prudential, Highlights for Children, Altec
Lansing, Wise Foods, and Penguin Putman
call the place home. But the experience of the
last century, with its reliance on heavy industry and the military, has taught the region a
lesson in diversity.
Today, the top industries in Luzerne
County are healthcare and social assistance
(21,000 workers), manufacturing (20,000)
and retail trade (18,000), according to the
U.S. Census Bureau. Neighboring Lackawanna County sports similar ratios, with
healthcare employing 25 percent more workers than the next nearest industry, manufacturing. In the Poconos, the ratios change to
reflect the region’s focus on tourism: Monroe
County’s top industries are retail trade, accommodation and food services, healthcare
a region of choice
• New & beautiful resorts, plus $100+million in renovations
• 35 high quality choices for golf
• So close to NYC and Philadelphia metro areas
Exciting recreation possibilities every season of the year.
Call 1-800-722-9199 or visit poconomeetings.com.
Send an email to groupsandmeetings@poconos.org for
more information.
1.800.722.9199
Pocono Mountains Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.,
1004 Main Street, Box USAA, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
arrivals and departures to 12 major hubs.
Some 201,800 people departed from the airport last year, and this year’s numbers are
accent
sp onsored
sec t i on
a new parking garage, terminal apron and
pedestrian tunnel to the terminal. To date,
the parking garage is complete and the
terminal should be ready for
passengers in the first quarter
of 2006.
When it comes to growth,
the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area
isn’t alone. Just before Halloween, Pennsylvania Governor Ed
Rendell showed up in the Poconos bearing treats in the form
of $10 million in grants and
loans for economic growth. Pocono Mountains Industries, a
not-for-profit development corporation, will use its money to
extend infrastructure to Arcadia
North Business Park in Coolbaugh Township, Monroe
County. Under development by
private developer Arcadia Properties LLC of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the 600-acre business
park will accommodate logistics
facilities as large as 2 million
sqaure feet, plus light manufacturing and office operations.
photo courtesy of the lackawanna county convention and visitors bureau
people can be accessed via interstates 80, 78,
and 84. Passenger rail service between NYC/
NJ and Penn’s Northeast is expected to be
restored by 2010.”
Northeast Pennsylvania also
has a cost advantage. Business
consultant Wadley Donovan
Group estimates that a 500-employee business unit with an
average annual salary of $50,000
would have an annual payroll
of $17.5 million here, compared
to $25 million in the metro
New York/New Jersey area.
Rents are lower. The white
paper estimates that for a
100,000-square-feet building
(appropriate for a 500-employee trading company), the difference would result in a savings of $15.1 million over five
years. Taxes are lower, too. If
that company moved into
100,000 square feet in a Keystone Opportunity Expansion
Zone, the firm would save $20.2
million in taxes over the first
five years.
a region of choice
The discovery of rich iron-ore deposits in Lackawanna County
in the 1700s led to a business boom of blast furnaces and forges.
Some 40 percent of the total U.S. and Canadian
population live within 500 miles of Northeast Pennsylvania,
accessible by way of 2 airports, 5,600 miles
of rail lines, and 6 interstate highways.
Infrastructure is critical for back-office
operations, and economic developers here
believe they have what it takes. In addition to
transportation and telecommunication networks, the region offers access to two
airports, Lehigh Valley International near
Allentownand Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International (AVP) in Avoca.
AVP offers one-stop service to more than
450 destinations worldwide with 70 daily
up by more than 10 percent, according to
Eric McKitish, director of marketing and
communications for AVP. That activity has
an impact. The Pennsylvania Aviation Bureau estimates the airport pumps more than
$138 million a year into the region.
AVP has launched an ambitious plan to
build a 131,000-square-feet terminal that is
almost double the size of the existing one.
The $57 million expansion will also provide
For people like Pepperjam’s Kristopher
Jones, infrastructure is important but people
are the key to attracting business. “We’ve
tapped into a great network of hardworking
people. Many dotcom businesses have located in the area within the last two years, like
igourmet.com and Solid Cactus, which helps
young people who want to get involved in ecommerce. Now they can have a high-paying
job and stay here.”
Your Gateway to
and the
Pocono Mountains. . . . . . . . . .
Nonstop to 12 major hubs
One stop to hundreds of
destinations worldwide
(877) 2FLYAVP
www.flyavp.com
U S A i r way s
Attaché
★ De c e m b e r 2005
133
arrivals and departures to 12 major hubs.
Some 201,800 people departed from the airport last year, and this year’s numbers are
accent
sp onsored
sec t i on
a new parking garage, terminal apron and
pedestrian tunnel to the terminal. To date,
the parking garage is complete and the
terminal should be ready for
passengers in the first quarter
of 2006.
When it comes to growth,
the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area
isn’t alone. Just before Halloween, Pennsylvania Governor Ed
Rendell showed up in the Poconos bearing treats in the form
of $10 million in grants and
loans for economic growth. Pocono Mountains Industries, a
not-for-profit development corporation, will use its money to
extend infrastructure to Arcadia
North Business Park in Coolbaugh Township, Monroe
County. Under development by
private developer Arcadia Properties LLC of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the 600-acre business
park will accommodate logistics
facilities as large as 2 million
sqaure feet, plus light manufacturing and office operations.
photo courtesy of the lackawanna county convention and visitors bureau
people can be accessed via interstates 80, 78,
and 84. Passenger rail service between NYC/
NJ and Penn’s Northeast is expected to be
restored by 2010.”
Northeast Pennsylvania also
has a cost advantage. Business
consultant Wadley Donovan
Group estimates that a 500-employee business unit with an
average annual salary of $50,000
would have an annual payroll
of $17.5 million here, compared
to $25 million in the metro
New York/New Jersey area.
Rents are lower. The white
paper estimates that for a
100,000-square-feet building
(appropriate for a 500-employee trading company), the difference would result in a savings of $15.1 million over five
years. Taxes are lower, too. If
that company moved into
100,000 square feet in a Keystone Opportunity Expansion
Zone, the firm would save $20.2
million in taxes over the first
five years.
a region of choice
The discovery of rich iron-ore deposits in Lackawanna County
in the 1700s led to a business boom of blast furnaces and forges.
Some 40 percent of the total U.S. and Canadian
population live within 500 miles of Northeast Pennsylvania,
accessible by way of 2 airports, 5,600 miles
of rail lines, and 6 interstate highways.
Infrastructure is critical for back-office
operations, and economic developers here
believe they have what it takes. In addition to
transportation and telecommunication networks, the region offers access to two
airports, Lehigh Valley International near
Allentownand Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International (AVP) in Avoca.
AVP offers one-stop service to more than
450 destinations worldwide with 70 daily
up by more than 10 percent, according to
Eric McKitish, director of marketing and
communications for AVP. That activity has
an impact. The Pennsylvania Aviation Bureau estimates the airport pumps more than
$138 million a year into the region.
AVP has launched an ambitious plan to
build a 131,000-square-feet terminal that is
almost double the size of the existing one.
The $57 million expansion will also provide
For people like Pepperjam’s Kristopher
Jones, infrastructure is important but people
are the key to attracting business. “We’ve
tapped into a great network of hardworking
people. Many dotcom businesses have located in the area within the last two years, like
igourmet.com and Solid Cactus, which helps
young people who want to get involved in ecommerce. Now they can have a high-paying
job and stay here.”
Your Gateway to
and the
Pocono Mountains. . . . . . . . . .
Nonstop to 12 major hubs
One stop to hundreds of
destinations worldwide
(877) 2FLYAVP
www.flyavp.com
U S A i r way s
Attaché
★ De c e m b e r 2005
133
accent
a region of choice
sp onsored
sec t i on
W O R L D
C L A S S
C A N C E R
T R E A T M E N T
C E N T E R
HEALTHY business
Globetrotters
bring world-class
healthcare
The Georgian/
American
Partnership
for Rehabilitation and
Special Education links
professionals at the
University of Scranton and
their counterparts in the
former Soviet Union.
Canoeing down the Susquehanna
River in Pennsylvania can be
physically taxing but good
for the heart and soul.
Quick Facts
1. Closer to home. The ESSA Cardiovascular Institute at Pocono Medical Center
will provide two cardiac catheterization labs and two cardiovascular operating
suites. Physicians will be able to perform interventional procedures that include
open-heart surgery, cardiac catheterization and the insertion of drug-eluting
stents, cardiovascular surgery and imaging services. The institute will serve
1,500 patients a year who now travel elsewhere.
2. Cancer champion. Women diagnosed with breast cancer have a new champion
at Pocono Medical Center. Marilyn Jiggits, the Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer
Center’s nurse navigator, is a clinical breast cancer specialist who provides
patients with education, emotional support and assistance in making decisions.
She will help patients navigate their way through the entire process and follow
up with telephone calls.
3. Faster response. Through the use of wireless technology and computer
systems, Pocono Medical Center has introduced bedside registration, electronic
ordering, results reporting and clinician documentation to its emergency room.
Pocono has reduced the time it takes to be seen by a physician by about 50
percent, despite the fact that its ER visits are triple the national average of
23,240.
R ay m o n d G e h m a n / g e t t y i m a g e s
health
care
D
aniel West went around the world
to discover a simple truth: healthy
people make for a healthy economy.
The professor and former hospital CEO has
served as educator and consultant in such farranging places as Slovakia and the former Soviet republic of Georgia. There he’s studied
the links between healthcare, education, and
the economy. Back home, he’s come to some
inevitable conclusions.
“If I were relocating a business here, I’d
look at the educational and healthcare systems,” said West, FACHE and chair of the
Health & Human Resources Administration
programs at the University of Scranton. “I’d
ask, ‘Am I going to be able to employ people
and are they healthy?’ All of these things—
what I call the pillars for economic change,
include cost of living, logistics, education,
and healthcare—work together to make this
area attractive. Economic development affects healthcare and healthcare in turn affects
industry.”
The key to economic growth is not as ap-
Strategic Partnership with
Varian Medical Systems
PMC’s Dale and Frances Hughes
Cancer Center has affirmed its
status as the region’s leading
cancer treatment center by
partnering with Varian Medical
Systems, the world’s foremost
manufacturer of linear accelerators. Varian selected the Hughes
Cancer Center as one of thirtyseven Strategic Partners worldwide, enabling us to be at the
forefront of the latest cancerfighting modalities.
570.421.4000
As One of Pocono Medical
Center’s Centers of Excellence,
The Hughes Cancer Center
is Rated in the Top 1% in
Patient Satisfaction.
“PMc’s strategic partnership with Varian Medical
Systems benefits everyone, especially our patients,
by allowing us to be the first in the region to
introduce new cancer-fighting treatments…”
Complete Cancer Care–
Treating the Whole Person
PMC reaches beyond the diagnosis to treat the whole person
providing an environment of
compassionate care. This
allows us to not only treat the
cancer, but also offer emotional
support to our patients and
their families. PMC has been
awarded the Comprehensive
Community Center Designation based on our exemplary
multidisciplinary approach
to cancer care.
www.poconohealthsystem.org
accent
a region of choice
sp onsored
sec t i on
W O R L D
C L A S S
C A N C E R
T R E A T M E N T
C E N T E R
HEALTHY business
Globetrotters
bring world-class
healthcare
The Georgian/
American
Partnership
for Rehabilitation and
Special Education links
professionals at the
University of Scranton and
their counterparts in the
former Soviet Union.
Canoeing down the Susquehanna
River in Pennsylvania can be
physically taxing but good
for the heart and soul.
Quick Facts
1. Closer to home. The ESSA Cardiovascular Institute at Pocono Medical Center
will provide two cardiac catheterization labs and two cardiovascular operating
suites. Physicians will be able to perform interventional procedures that include
open-heart surgery, cardiac catheterization and the insertion of drug-eluting
stents, cardiovascular surgery and imaging services. The institute will serve
1,500 patients a year who now travel elsewhere.
2. Cancer champion. Women diagnosed with breast cancer have a new champion
at Pocono Medical Center. Marilyn Jiggits, the Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer
Center’s nurse navigator, is a clinical breast cancer specialist who provides
patients with education, emotional support and assistance in making decisions.
She will help patients navigate their way through the entire process and follow
up with telephone calls.
3. Faster response. Through the use of wireless technology and computer
systems, Pocono Medical Center has introduced bedside registration, electronic
ordering, results reporting and clinician documentation to its emergency room.
Pocono has reduced the time it takes to be seen by a physician by about 50
percent, despite the fact that its ER visits are triple the national average of
23,240.
R ay m o n d G e h m a n / g e t t y i m a g e s
health
care
D
aniel West went around the world
to discover a simple truth: healthy
people make for a healthy economy.
The professor and former hospital CEO has
served as educator and consultant in such farranging places as Slovakia and the former Soviet republic of Georgia. There he’s studied
the links between healthcare, education, and
the economy. Back home, he’s come to some
inevitable conclusions.
“If I were relocating a business here, I’d
look at the educational and healthcare systems,” said West, FACHE and chair of the
Health & Human Resources Administration
programs at the University of Scranton. “I’d
ask, ‘Am I going to be able to employ people
and are they healthy?’ All of these things—
what I call the pillars for economic change,
include cost of living, logistics, education,
and healthcare—work together to make this
area attractive. Economic development affects healthcare and healthcare in turn affects
industry.”
The key to economic growth is not as ap-
Strategic Partnership with
Varian Medical Systems
PMC’s Dale and Frances Hughes
Cancer Center has affirmed its
status as the region’s leading
cancer treatment center by
partnering with Varian Medical
Systems, the world’s foremost
manufacturer of linear accelerators. Varian selected the Hughes
Cancer Center as one of thirtyseven Strategic Partners worldwide, enabling us to be at the
forefront of the latest cancerfighting modalities.
570.421.4000
As One of Pocono Medical
Center’s Centers of Excellence,
The Hughes Cancer Center
is Rated in the Top 1% in
Patient Satisfaction.
“PMc’s strategic partnership with Varian Medical
Systems benefits everyone, especially our patients,
by allowing us to be the first in the region to
introduce new cancer-fighting treatments…”
Complete Cancer Care–
Treating the Whole Person
PMC reaches beyond the diagnosis to treat the whole person
providing an environment of
compassionate care. This
allows us to not only treat the
cancer, but also offer emotional
support to our patients and
their families. PMC has been
awarded the Comprehensive
Community Center Designation based on our exemplary
multidisciplinary approach
to cancer care.
a region of choice
accent
sp onsored
sec t i on
W O R L D
C L A S S
E M E R G E N C Y
D E P A R T M E N T
C A R E
Geisinger Health System has created a subsidiary to develop
and sell products, systems, and technologies it has pioneered.
Geisinger Ventures will reinvest those revenues in the health system.
parent in Northeastern Pennsylvania as it is
overseas, he said, but the connection is there.
West has spent years teaching and exchanging information with his colleagues abroad. He
is the director of the Georgian/American Partnership for Rehabilitation and Special Education, an organization that links professionals at
the University of Scranton with their counterparts in the former Soviet republic to exchange
best practices. He was recently appointed affiliated faculty at Tbilisi State Medical University and serves as a professor in public health at
Trnava University in Slovakia.
That experience has taught him the value
of something many Americans take for granted. “The strong primary-care base in Northeast Pennsylvania means we can head off
chronic problems that will be more expensive
to treat in the future.”
In the region, the healthcare industry ranks
second to manufacturing in overall employment, with 16.75 percent of jobs compared to
manufacturing at 18.38 percent, the Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal recently
reported. Healthcare also ranks second to
manufacturing’s 25.3 percent of regional payroll at 20.6 percent.
“Healthcare is either No. 1 or No. 2 in every county [in Pennsylvania],” said Stephen
Foreman, Ph.D., director of allied health and
associate professor of healthcare administration and economics at Robert Morris University near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. “Pun intended, it’s probably one of your healthier
industries.”
In 2004, healthcare practitioner and technical occupations accounted for 18,100 jobs
with a mean annual salary of $47,240 in the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton metropolitan statistical area, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Healthcare support occupations accounted for an additional 7,860
jobs at a mean annual salary of $23,080.
Medical care is serious business in Northeast Pennsylvania. The region supports nearly
two dozen hospitals and specialized medical
facilities. Lourdesmont/Good Shepherd
Youth and Family Services is a non-profit
adolescent mental health and substance abuse
treatment center. Other facilities include the
VA Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, the
Northeast Regional Cancer Institute and Allied Services, which offers rehabilitation in
Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.
Regional planners have even floated the
idea of building their own medical school.
They’ve formed the Northeastern Pennsylvania
Medical Education Consortium, hired a project manager and will soon commission a study
to determine the feasibility of locating a medi-
Pocono Medical Center
Grows With the Region
cal school in the Lackawanna County area.
While those existing facilities provide basic care, West said Northeast Pennsylvania’s
medical and education facilities do more than
maintain a healthy population. They drive
economic development by providing income,
ideas and labor.
“Part of the concern about this region has
been the younger population leaving the
area,” he said. “The healthcare industry in its
totality is a major employer in Northeast
Pennsylvania. There is a tax base that is generated in terms of salary and wages paid, and
there are employment opportunities. It is an
industry that is very knowledge-based; there
is a strong demand for the health professions.
The universities produce a lot of healthcare
professionals, including nurses and occupational therapists. Bringing industries to this
area has the potential to retain youth.”
The healthcare industry spawns other
industries that support the system, from
materials management and benefits-management companies to the legal profession
and the insurance industry. That, West said,
keeps both the people and the economy in
good shape.
“There is no question that when business
and industry is looking to locate, they look
for how well a workforce is.”
health
care
Richard Henley knows how to make an entrance.
On duty as of December 5, the new CEO of Pocono Medical Center inherits a facility that is
growing as rapidly as the region. PMC is nearing completion of a $53 million expansion that will
add the ESSA Cardiovascular Institute to two other centers of excellence, including cancer care
and emergency services.
The institute joins the very successful Dale & Frances Hughes Cancer Center, which was designated a comprehensive community cancer center for three years, with commendation, by the
Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.
“It’s an important time for the hospital and an exciting time for me to assume this new role,” said the former executive at
Health Quest in Poughkeepsie, New York.
Henley arrives at a time of intense growth in the Pocono Mountains. PMC’s emergency room is already one of the busiest in
the state. It sees patients at a rate three times the national average. With a staff of 1,400, the 192-bed acute-care hospital cares
for more than 200,000 patients annually.
To serve the region, PMC is building a four-story addition to its East Stroudsburg facility that will make cardiac care, including
open-heart surgery, available in Monroe County for the first time. Other services will include advanced diagnostic and interventional cardiac and peripheral catheterizations.
Setting New Standards
in Emergency Care
Through careful study and innovative application of new technologies,
PMC is setting new standards in ER
care. Efficient bedside registration,
wireless technology, and advanced
computer systems have reduced
the time it takes to be seen by a
physician by 50%. Leading hospitals
across the country are looking to
PMC as a model for excellence
in Emergency Department care.
In addition, our patient satisfaction
scores for the ER have improved
by over 400%.
570.421.4000
The Gold-Standard in Patient
Medication Delivery Systems
Through the Innovative
Use of Wireless Technology,
Has Become A Recognized
Leader in Emergency Care.
“Hospitals across the country recognize PMC
as a best practice. PMC is able to provide
Emergency Care for triple the national
average of ER visits…”
PMC partnered with McKesson
Automation Inc., to implement
the industry’s gold-standard for
medication delivery systems to
ensure patient safety. Currently,
only five percent of all hospitals
in the US have a “closed loop”
medication delivery system.
The McKesson system employs
state-of-the-art technology to
tightly monitor, verify, and control
the entire process of medication
delivery, reducing possible
medication errors.
a region of choice
accent
sp onsored
sec t i on
W O R L D
C L A S S
E M E R G E N C Y
D E P A R T M E N T
C A R E
Geisinger Health System has created a subsidiary to develop
and sell products, systems, and technologies it has pioneered.
Geisinger Ventures will reinvest those revenues in the health system.
parent in Northeastern Pennsylvania as it is
overseas, he said, but the connection is there.
West has spent years teaching and exchanging information with his colleagues abroad. He
is the director of the Georgian/American Partnership for Rehabilitation and Special Education, an organization that links professionals at
the University of Scranton with their counterparts in the former Soviet republic to exchange
best practices. He was recently appointed affiliated faculty at Tbilisi State Medical University and serves as a professor in public health at
Trnava University in Slovakia.
That experience has taught him the value
of something many Americans take for granted. “The strong primary-care base in Northeast Pennsylvania means we can head off
chronic problems that will be more expensive
to treat in the future.”
In the region, the healthcare industry ranks
second to manufacturing in overall employment, with 16.75 percent of jobs compared to
manufacturing at 18.38 percent, the Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal recently
reported. Healthcare also ranks second to
manufacturing’s 25.3 percent of regional payroll at 20.6 percent.
“Healthcare is either No. 1 or No. 2 in every county [in Pennsylvania],” said Stephen
Foreman, Ph.D., director of allied health and
associate professor of healthcare administration and economics at Robert Morris University near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. “Pun intended, it’s probably one of your healthier
industries.”
In 2004, healthcare practitioner and technical occupations accounted for 18,100 jobs
with a mean annual salary of $47,240 in the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton metropolitan statistical area, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Healthcare support occupations accounted for an additional 7,860
jobs at a mean annual salary of $23,080.
Medical care is serious business in Northeast Pennsylvania. The region supports nearly
two dozen hospitals and specialized medical
facilities. Lourdesmont/Good Shepherd
Youth and Family Services is a non-profit
adolescent mental health and substance abuse
treatment center. Other facilities include the
VA Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, the
Northeast Regional Cancer Institute and Allied Services, which offers rehabilitation in
Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.
Regional planners have even floated the
idea of building their own medical school.
They’ve formed the Northeastern Pennsylvania
Medical Education Consortium, hired a project manager and will soon commission a study
to determine the feasibility of locating a medi-
Grows With the Region
cal school in the Lackawanna County area.
While those existing facilities provide basic care, West said Northeast Pennsylvania’s
medical and education facilities do more than
maintain a healthy population. They drive
economic development by providing income,
ideas and labor.
“Part of the concern about this region has
been the younger population leaving the
area,” he said. “The healthcare industry in its
totality is a major employer in Northeast
Pennsylvania. There is a tax base that is generated in terms of salary and wages paid, and
there are employment opportunities. It is an
industry that is very knowledge-based; there
is a strong demand for the health professions.
The universities produce a lot of healthcare
professionals, including nurses and occupational therapists. Bringing industries to this
area has the potential to retain youth.”
The healthcare industry spawns other
industries that support the system, from
materials management and benefits-management companies to the legal profession
and the insurance industry. That, West said,
keeps both the people and the economy in
good shape.
“There is no question that when business
and industry is looking to locate, they look
for how well a workforce is.”
health
care
Richard Henley knows how to make an entrance.
On duty as of December 5, the new CEO of Pocono Medical Center inherits a facility that is
growing as rapidly as the region. PMC is nearing completion of a $53 million expansion that will
add the ESSA Cardiovascular Institute to two other centers of excellence, including cancer care
and emergency services.
The institute joins the very successful Dale & Frances Hughes Cancer Center, which was designated a comprehensive community cancer center for three years, with commendation, by the
Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.
“It’s an important time for the hospital and an exciting time for me to assume this new role,” said the former executive at
Health Quest in Poughkeepsie, New York.
Henley arrives at a time of intense growth in the Pocono Mountains. PMC’s emergency room is already one of the busiest in
the state. It sees patients at a rate three times the national average. With a staff of 1,400, the 192-bed acute-care hospital cares
for more than 200,000 patients annually.
To serve the region, PMC is building a four-story addition to its East Stroudsburg facility that will make cardiac care, including
open-heart surgery, available in Monroe County for the first time. Other services will include advanced diagnostic and interventional cardiac and peripheral catheterizations.
Setting New Standards
in Emergency Care
Through careful study and innovative application of new technologies,
PMC is setting new standards in ER
care. Efficient bedside registration,
wireless technology, and advanced
computer systems have reduced
the time it takes to be seen by a
physician by 50%. Leading hospitals
across the country are looking to
PMC as a model for excellence
in Emergency Department care.
In addition, our patient satisfaction
scores for the ER have improved
by over 400%.
570.421.4000
The Gold-Standard in Patient
Medication Delivery Systems
Through the Innovative
Use of Wireless Technology,
Has Become A Recognized
Leader in Emergency Care.
“Hospitals across the country recognize PMC
as a best practice. PMC is able to provide
Emergency Care for triple the national
average of ER visits…”
PMC partnered with McKesson
Automation Inc., to implement
the industry’s gold-standard for
medication delivery systems to
ensure patient safety. Currently,
only five percent of all hospitals
in the US have a “closed loop”
medication delivery system.
The McKesson system employs
state-of-the-art technology to
tightly monitor, verify, and control
the entire process of medication
delivery, reducing possible
medication errors.
a region of choice
“When I came
to Harrisburg,
I said we
were going to
do things
differently.”
–Pennsylvania Governor
Ed Rendell
Quick
Facts
F
sec t i on
Real estate drives
Northeast PA economy
Dirt cheap. Land in fully developed industrial, office and
technology parks starts as low as $30,000 per acre, according to
economic development agency Penn’s Northeast. Class A office
space leases from $11 to $15 per square foot while Class B space
goes for $7 to $11.Quality industrial space leases from $2.50 to
$4.25 per square foot. (All figures net, net, net.)
ifteen years ago, Mericle Commercial Real Estate would construct a 50,000square-feet building on spec each year. Today, it’s erecting between two and
four buildings of 100,000 square feet to 510,000 square feet annually. “Over
the last 10-12 years, we’ve grown from 800,000 square feet to 8 million square feet of
commercial and industrial space,” said Robert K. Mericle, the company’s president
and CEO. “We’re building nearly a million square feet a year.”
That kind of growth has not only attracted business, it’s grabbed the attention
of state officials at the highest level, including Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell. In
October, Rendell visited the region to announce $12.3 million in grants and lowinterest loans for CenterPoint Commerce and Trade Park, an 870-acre property that
straddles two townships near Interstate 81.
The largest commercial/industrial real estate developer in Northeast Pennsylvania, Mericle plans to invest $100 million into CenterPoint to develop the land into
four industrial parks that could create thousands of jobs.
Mericle said the venture shows the confidence he and the state have in Northeast
Pennsylvania. “That was a big step-up for us to acquire the land and develop our
own park.”
accent
sp on s ore d
se c t i on
a region of choice
The governor agreed. “Pennsylvania continues to use its resources to create and retain
jobs,” Rendell said. “In addition to helping
existing companies, we’re investing in the future by helping to develop new commercial
and industrial locations that will attract new
businesses. The assistance we are providing
is helping our companies remain
competitive in world markets.”
Across the nation, the industrial real estate market is booming. In the first half of 2005, sales
of general industrial/warehouse
properties totaled $9.3 billion, a 94
percent increase compared with
the first half of 2004, according to
a study done by CB Richard Ellis
Group, the world’s largest commercial real estate services company. In the office-construction
market, first-half sales of central
business district properties have
increased 22 percent while suburban property sales have risen 75
percent from a year ago.
Northeastern Pennsylvania is
participating in that growth. Within the past 18 months, several new
tenants have moved into local industrial parks, including Raflatac
(adhesive labels), Simmons Bed-
distribution facility. And Dempsey Uniform
& Linen Supply Co. is building a $14 million
facility.
While some of the demand for industrial
real estate is a result of the nation’s continued
economic expansion, local brokers attribute
much of the growth to macro conditions
centers, which are a little north of New York
City to a little south of Philadelphia,” said
Wetherill, senior regional development officer with Exton, Pennsylvania, based First Industrial Realty Trust, a REIT with 62 million
square feet of industrial space under management. “New Jersey is too expensive. That
leaves south central Pennsylvania,
but there’s no land left in Harrisburg
[for distribution centers] and Carlisle is too far.”
In other words, truckers can’t
drive from Carlisle to New York
City’s boroughs and back in a day.
So their companies have discovered
that Northeast Pennsylvania sits at
the crossroads of a major network of
north/south highways that includes
Interstates 81, 84, and 78.
To prepare for that business
migration, First Industrial has purchased 800 acres in Covington Industrial Park on I-380 near Scranton, sold two tenants (Caterpillar
and Maytag) on the park, and plans
to house 4 million square feet of
distribution space once the sawdust
settles.
The region’s potential has led
other companies like Arcadia Properties of Bethlehem and Higgins
photo: courtesy of the luzerne county convention and visitors bureau
Wolcott henry / Getty Images
Real progress
accent
sp onsored
The name of the Susquehanna River comes from an Algonquian word for “muddy water.” It is the sixteenth largest river
in America with many scenic hikes and natural falls located at a number of state parks in the region.
‘New Jersey is too expensive. Anyone who wants to service
that market will spend a dollar more per mile to operate
on I-95 than they will on I-81.’
— Elkins Wetherill
ding Company (mattresses), Cardinal Glass
Industries (residential window glass), and
Mission Foods Corp. (tortilla wraps).
There are now dozens of development
projects in the works, including several logistical operations. The Downs at Poconos in
Plains Township is planning a $175 million
expansion to accommodate slot machines,
eateries and entertainment. Baby Age Inc. is
nearing completion of a corporate office and
here. “The big draw for our customers is easy
access to their markets,” Mericle said, “plus
lower costs—land is much cheaper here—and
a strong work ethic with low turnover rates.”
Elkins Wetherill has another explanation of
why Northeast Pennsylvania is attracting the
logistical operations of so many companies:
the new federal hours of service regulations
for commercial motor vehicle operators.
“Companies want to reach the population
Development Partners in Chicago to place
big bets on the area by constructing more
space on spec.
Whether that success is due to the diligence of developers or the distance a trucker
can drive in a day, Mericle said the result is
the most economic development activity
his company has seen since the late 1980s.
“We’re bullish about the commercial/industrial market here.”
U S A i r way s
Attaché
★ De c e m b e r 2005
139
a region of choice
“When I came
to Harrisburg,
I said we
were going to
do things
differently.”
–Pennsylvania Governor
Ed Rendell
Quick
Facts
F
sec t i on
Real estate drives
Northeast PA economy
Dirt cheap. Land in fully developed industrial, office and
technology parks starts as low as $30,000 per acre, according to
economic development agency Penn’s Northeast. Class A office
space leases from $11 to $15 per square foot while Class B space
goes for $7 to $11.Quality industrial space leases from $2.50 to
$4.25 per square foot. (All figures net, net, net.)
ifteen years ago, Mericle Commercial Real Estate would construct a 50,000square-feet building on spec each year. Today, it’s erecting between two and
four buildings of 100,000 square feet to 510,000 square feet annually. “Over
the last 10-12 years, we’ve grown from 800,000 square feet to 8 million square feet of
commercial and industrial space,” said Robert K. Mericle, the company’s president
and CEO. “We’re building nearly a million square feet a year.”
That kind of growth has not only attracted business, it’s grabbed the attention
of state officials at the highest level, including Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell. In
October, Rendell visited the region to announce $12.3 million in grants and lowinterest loans for CenterPoint Commerce and Trade Park, an 870-acre property that
straddles two townships near Interstate 81.
The largest commercial/industrial real estate developer in Northeast Pennsylvania, Mericle plans to invest $100 million into CenterPoint to develop the land into
four industrial parks that could create thousands of jobs.
Mericle said the venture shows the confidence he and the state have in Northeast
Pennsylvania. “That was a big step-up for us to acquire the land and develop our
own park.”
accent
sp on s ore d
se c t i on
a region of choice
The governor agreed. “Pennsylvania continues to use its resources to create and retain
jobs,” Rendell said. “In addition to helping
existing companies, we’re investing in the future by helping to develop new commercial
and industrial locations that will attract new
businesses. The assistance we are providing
is helping our companies remain
competitive in world markets.”
Across the nation, the industrial real estate market is booming. In the first half of 2005, sales
of general industrial/warehouse
properties totaled $9.3 billion, a 94
percent increase compared with
the first half of 2004, according to
a study done by CB Richard Ellis
Group, the world’s largest commercial real estate services company. In the office-construction
market, first-half sales of central
business district properties have
increased 22 percent while suburban property sales have risen 75
percent from a year ago.
Northeastern Pennsylvania is
participating in that growth. Within the past 18 months, several new
tenants have moved into local industrial parks, including Raflatac
(adhesive labels), Simmons Bed-
distribution facility. And Dempsey Uniform
& Linen Supply Co. is building a $14 million
facility.
While some of the demand for industrial
real estate is a result of the nation’s continued
economic expansion, local brokers attribute
much of the growth to macro conditions
centers, which are a little north of New York
City to a little south of Philadelphia,” said
Wetherill, senior regional development officer with Exton, Pennsylvania, based First Industrial Realty Trust, a REIT with 62 million
square feet of industrial space under management. “New Jersey is too expensive. That
leaves south central Pennsylvania,
but there’s no land left in Harrisburg
[for distribution centers] and Carlisle is too far.”
In other words, truckers can’t
drive from Carlisle to New York
City’s boroughs and back in a day.
So their companies have discovered
that Northeast Pennsylvania sits at
the crossroads of a major network of
north/south highways that includes
Interstates 81, 84, and 78.
To prepare for that business
migration, First Industrial has purchased 800 acres in Covington Industrial Park on I-380 near Scranton, sold two tenants (Caterpillar
and Maytag) on the park, and plans
to house 4 million square feet of
distribution space once the sawdust
settles.
The region’s potential has led
other companies like Arcadia Properties of Bethlehem and Higgins
photo: courtesy of the luzerne county convention and visitors bureau
Wolcott henry / Getty Images
Real progress
accent
sp onsored
The name of the Susquehanna River comes from an Algonquian word for “muddy water.” It is the sixteenth largest river
in America with many scenic hikes and natural falls located at a number of state parks in the region.
‘New Jersey is too expensive. Anyone who wants to service
that market will spend a dollar more per mile to operate
on I-95 than they will on I-81.’
— Elkins Wetherill
ding Company (mattresses), Cardinal Glass
Industries (residential window glass), and
Mission Foods Corp. (tortilla wraps).
There are now dozens of development
projects in the works, including several logistical operations. The Downs at Poconos in
Plains Township is planning a $175 million
expansion to accommodate slot machines,
eateries and entertainment. Baby Age Inc. is
nearing completion of a corporate office and
here. “The big draw for our customers is easy
access to their markets,” Mericle said, “plus
lower costs—land is much cheaper here—and
a strong work ethic with low turnover rates.”
Elkins Wetherill has another explanation of
why Northeast Pennsylvania is attracting the
logistical operations of so many companies:
the new federal hours of service regulations
for commercial motor vehicle operators.
“Companies want to reach the population
Development Partners in Chicago to place
big bets on the area by constructing more
space on spec.
Whether that success is due to the diligence of developers or the distance a trucker
can drive in a day, Mericle said the result is
the most economic development activity
his company has seen since the late 1980s.
“We’re bullish about the commercial/industrial market here.”
U S A i r way s
Attaché
★ De c e m b e r 2005
139
accent
a region of choice
sp onsored
sec t i on
sp on s ore d
a region of choice
se c t i on
american heritage
From polkas to
pop, Northeast PA
aims to entertain
Set in Scranton,
NBC’s adaptation
of the hit BBC
show “The Office”
portrays life at the fictional
paper-supplies company
Dunder-Mifflin.
T
living
tourism
Quick Facts
1. Fathers of mini golf. It took two entrepreneurs from Scranton to breathe
life into the once dynamic business of miniature-golf. Brothers Ralph and Al
Lomma opened their first course in Scranton in the early 1950s. Since then,
their company has become the largest manufacturers of miniature-golf courses
in the world, selling more than 5,000 courses worldwide.
2. Heritage Highway. National Geographic calls it “one of America’s most scenic
drives.” In Pennsylvania, Route 6 stretches across 400 miles of the northern tier
and encounters many of the state’s historic treasures. The route dates to 1807,
when officials mandated a road be cut through the Moosic Mountains to
enable easier travel to the western parts of the state.
3. Water works. The first new resort in the Pocono Mountains in 20 years, Great
Wolf Lodge in Scotrun is a 401-room resort and conference center featuring a
78,000-square-foot indoor waterpark with 6 pools and 11 waterslides. The 95
acre site cost $92 million to develop and entails more than 433,020-square-feet
of construction.
racy Angeli Barone had just returned
home from an assignment with the
National Park Service near Denver
and was showing the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
area to her colleagues. Years ago, she would
have seen a sea of coal breakers rising from
the valley like dinosaurs walking between
mountains of culm, the waste from anthracite coal mines. That day, she saw churches.
Lots of them.
“The majority of people who worked in the
coal industry were immigrants,” said Barone,
now executive director of the Lackawanna
County Convention and Visitors Bureau and
the granddaughter of miners who emigrated
from Italy. “They worked hard to make a better life for their children. Their customs and
work ethic have been passed down through
the generations, and the church is an important part of their culture.”
It was the mines and rails that attracted
immigrants from all over Europe, from Germany, Lithuania, Ireland, Slovakia, Lebanon,
Russia, and the Middle East. But it was the
church where they celebrated.
Luzerne Co. - Attache ’05 F
11/2/05
11:10 AM
Page 1
BUSINESS
COMES
Naturally
In Northeast Pennsylvania
WILKES-BARRE / HAZLETON
First-Class Resorts & Hotels
Easy Access for I-81, I-84,
I-80, I-476 Crossroads
and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
International Airport
Challenging Golf, Full- Service
Spas & Outlet Shopping!
NEW! Coming Summer ’06
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
– slots, live harness racing.
Plan to Be Here!
1-888-905-2872 • www.TOURNEPA.com
U S A i r way s
Attaché
★ De c e m b e r 2005
141
accent
a region of choice
sp onsored
sec t i on
sp on s ore d
a region of choice
se c t i on
american heritage
From polkas to
pop, Northeast PA
aims to entertain
Set in Scranton,
NBC’s adaptation
of the hit BBC
show “The Office”
portrays life at the fictional
paper-supplies company
Dunder-Mifflin.
T
living
tourism
Quick Facts
1. Fathers of mini golf. It took two entrepreneurs from Scranton to breathe
life into the once dynamic business of miniature-golf. Brothers Ralph and Al
Lomma opened their first course in Scranton in the early 1950s. Since then,
their company has become the largest manufacturers of miniature-golf courses
in the world, selling more than 5,000 courses worldwide.
2. Heritage Highway. National Geographic calls it “one of America’s most scenic
drives.” In Pennsylvania, Route 6 stretches across 400 miles of the northern tier
and encounters many of the state’s historic treasures. The route dates to 1807,
when officials mandated a road be cut through the Moosic Mountains to
enable easier travel to the western parts of the state.
3. Water works. The first new resort in the Pocono Mountains in 20 years, Great
Wolf Lodge in Scotrun is a 401-room resort and conference center featuring a
78,000-square-foot indoor waterpark with 6 pools and 11 waterslides. The 95
acre site cost $92 million to develop and entails more than 433,020-square-feet
of construction.
racy Angeli Barone had just returned
home from an assignment with the
National Park Service near Denver
and was showing the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
area to her colleagues. Years ago, she would
have seen a sea of coal breakers rising from
the valley like dinosaurs walking between
mountains of culm, the waste from anthracite coal mines. That day, she saw churches.
Lots of them.
“The majority of people who worked in the
coal industry were immigrants,” said Barone,
now executive director of the Lackawanna
County Convention and Visitors Bureau and
the granddaughter of miners who emigrated
from Italy. “They worked hard to make a better life for their children. Their customs and
work ethic have been passed down through
the generations, and the church is an important part of their culture.”
It was the mines and rails that attracted
immigrants from all over Europe, from Germany, Lithuania, Ireland, Slovakia, Lebanon,
Russia, and the Middle East. But it was the
church where they celebrated.
Luzerne Co. - Attache ’05 F
11/2/05
11:10 AM
Page 1
BUSINESS
COMES
Naturally
In Northeast Pennsylvania
WILKES-BARRE / HAZLETON
First-Class Resorts & Hotels
Easy Access for I-81, I-84,
I-80, I-476 Crossroads
and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
International Airport
Challenging Golf, Full- Service
Spas & Outlet Shopping!
NEW! Coming Summer ’06
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
– slots, live harness racing.
Plan to Be Here!
1-888-905-2872 • www.TOURNEPA.com
U S A i r way s
Attaché
★ De c e m b e r 2005
141
a region of choice
accent
sp onsored
sec t i on
Left: The Fine Arts Fiesta, the oldest arts festival in Pennsylvania (founded in 1956) takes place in the Wyoming Valley area
and features both performing and visual arts free to the community. Right: Steamtown offers more than train rides—educational programs
focus on the people, equipment, and materials that built the nation.
The Wachovia Arena houses an AHL hockey team,
the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, and hosts numerous events,
from NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball to the
Trans-Siberian Orchestra and the Lipizzaner Stallions.
nna County, Barone said. In Luzerne County,
the travel industry adds close to $800 million
a year to the local economy, according to
Merle Mackin, executive director of the Luzerne County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Last year in the Pocono Mountains, the
four-county region enjoyed an increase in
revenues of 5 percent over 2003, hitting $1.2
billion for the first time, according to the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau.
While the region’s heritage helps to drive
tourism, it isn’t the only draw.
“Outdoor recreation is our primary asset,”
said Mackin. “A good portion of Luzerne
County is green. We have the largest natural
lake in the state, two state parks, and whitewater rafting on the Lehigh River.”
Lackawanna County has hiking trails and
ski slopes. In the Pocono Mountains, visitors
can enjoy seven state parks, 150 lakes, 170
river miles, and a national park.
The great indoors lures visitors, too. If you
like pop music, you can catch acts from Dave
Matthews to Toby Keith at the Ford Pavilion
at Montage Mountain. There are also numerous theatres, museums, libraries, and art
galleries, including the Wachovia Arena, the
F.M. Kirby Center and the Scranton Cultural
Center.
Northeast PA is home to the Scranton/
Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, the AAA affiliate
of the Philadelphia Phillies, who play in the
11,000 seat Lackawanna County Stadium
on Montage Mountain. Finally, there’s the
Steamtown National Historic Site, the only
National Park Service site dedicated to the
preservation of steam locomotives.
“We love to tell the history of our region,”
Lackawanna CVB’s Barone said. “Our heritage runs deep, like the veins of coal that run
underneath this valley.”
JEFF WIDMER has written several books
about the people of Northeast Pennsylvania,
including The Spirit of Swiftwater, a history
of vaccine pioneers.
top left photo courtesy of the times leader;
top right photo courtesy of the greater scranton chamber of commerce
Travelers interested in sampling the region’s culture and food can drop in on some
of its festivals, such as the annual picnics at
the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church,
St. Michael’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church
and St. Mary of Czestochowa Roman Catholic Church, all in Scranton.
As important as they are to the fabric of
the community, festivals aren’t the only heritage attractions in the region. Historical and
cultural travel includes Eckley Miner’s Village
in Weatherly, an original coal mining village
that has been preserved in its natural state,
and the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour, which
allows 80,000 visitors a year to descend into a
mine.
The region’s history is still important to
its economy. In 2003, the Northeast hosted
6.6 million overnight leisure visitors, or 14
percent of the state total, according to the
Pennsylvania Department of Community
and Economic Development. Tourism generates about $500 million a year in Lackawa-

Northeastern Pennsylvania, A Region of Choice

Transcription

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