s p o n s o r e d s e c t i o n CTE Ad for Atache Mag ... · Wilkes-Barre, hazleton, and Berwick) and Monroe, pike, and Wayne (in the pocono Mountains, known for tourism and resort

s p o n s o r e d s e c t i o n

118 US Airways Attaché ★ December 2005

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Coal was king and iron was hot. It’s the people of Northeast Pennsylvania today that makethe region sparkle.

shinea

new

totally.Visit ct-enterprises.com or call 1.877.464.2874 today.

In the struggle to find the righttelecommunications company for your business,one company stands out.

Today, telecommunications is yourmost important business tool. Everythingyou do depends on clear, reliable voiceand data transmission. Everything wedo delivers exactly what you need.Whatever your challenges, with a CTE company you’ll get an effective, customizedsolution.Totally customized.

And CTE companies deliver something more. Our Customer Account Managementteam is committed to helping yourbusiness grow by keeping you abreastof the latest products and servicesthat can make your business better.Totally committed.

Local Telephone Service

Long Distance

Advanced Calling Features

High-Speed DSL Internet

ISDN,T1, DS3, OC3, OC12

Digital Centrex

Video Conferencing

LAN/WAN

PBX-Key Systems

ATM/Frame Relay

CTE Ad for Atache Mag final 11/4/05 3:47 PM Page 1

n o r t h e a s t p e n n s y l v a n i a

B y J eff W idmer



Jo

hn

er

/ ge

tt

y im

ag

es

Coal was king and iron was hot. It’s the people of Northeast Pennsylvania today that makethe region sparkle.

shine

a n

ew

totally.Visit ct-enterprises.com or call 1.877.464.2874 today.

In the struggle to find the righttelecommunications company for your business,one company stands out.

Today, telecommunications is yourmost important business tool. Everythingyou do depends on clear, reliable voiceand data transmission. Everything wedo delivers exactly what you need.Whatever your challenges, with a CTE company you’ll get an effective, customizedsolution.Totally customized.

And CTE companies deliver something more. Our Customer Account Managementteam is committed to helping yourbusiness grow by keeping you abreastof the latest products and servicesthat can make your business better.Totally committed.

Local Telephone Service

Long Distance

Advanced Calling Features

High-Speed DSL Internet

ISDN,T1, DS3, OC3, OC12

Digital Centrex

Video Conferencing

LAN/WAN

PBX-Key Systems

ATM/Frame Relay

CTE Ad for Atache Mag final 11/4/05 3:47 PM Page 1

n o r t h e a s t p e n n s y l v a n i a

B y J eff W idmer

n o r t h e a s t p e n n s y l v a n i a a r e g i o n o f c h o i c e s p o n s o r e d s e c t i o naccent

a r e g i o n o f c h o i c e n o r t h e a s t p e n n s y l v a n i as p o n s o r e d s e c t i o np Since then, Mortell has seen the light, mov-ing from finance to insurance, building a home and setting down roots. He volunteers with the American Heart Association and

joined the board of directors of Scranton To-morrow and United Way of Lackawanna County. He coaches baseball, basketball, and

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 peo-ple. 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 rehabili-tation 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, revers-ing a trend with the creation of more than 2,000 new positions since 2002. “Our attitude is changing,” said Sara Hail-stone, 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


We’re Penn’s Northeast – your single point of contactfor award-winning site-selection assistance in

Northeast Pennsylvania.

Our professional and confidential support team will provideyou with detailed information about our region’s talentedwork force and job training, grant and loan programs.

We also offer the area’s only comprehensive, online,searchable database for office and industrial sites andfacilities.

If you’re seeking a location close to major markets on the East Coast…

If you could benefit from a skilled and innovative workforce…

If you’d like a more affordable way of doing business…

Call us. We have what you’re looking for. 1-800-317-1313 • [email protected]

www.pennsnortheast.comWhen you think Northeast...

Think Penn’s Northeast!

PNE Attache ad_final 10/31/05 3:11 PM Page 1

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 re-gion, 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 Pennsylva-nia 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 Health-care, where he now works as the financial op-erations 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.”

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.

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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 tunnelthrough 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.

Quick FactsLocated 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.


a r e g i o n o f c h o i c e n o r t h e a s t p e n n s y l v a n i as p o n s o r e d s e c t i o np Since then, Mortell has seen the light, mov-ing from finance to insurance, building a home and setting down roots. He volunteers with the American Heart Association and

joined the board of directors of Scranton To-morrow and United Way of Lackawanna County. He coaches baseball, basketball, and

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 peo-ple. 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 rehabili-tation 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, revers-ing a trend with the creation of more than 2,000 new positions since 2002. “Our attitude is changing,” said Sara Hail-stone, 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


We’re Penn’s Northeast – your single point of contactfor award-winning site-selection assistance in

Northeast Pennsylvania.

Our professional and confidential support team will provideyou with detailed information about our region’s talentedwork force and job training, grant and loan programs.

We also offer the area’s only comprehensive, online,searchable database for office and industrial sites andfacilities.

If you’re seeking a location close to major markets on the East Coast…

If you could benefit from a skilled and innovative workforce…

If you’d like a more affordable way of doing business…

Call us. We have what you’re looking for. 1-800-317-1313 • [email protected]

www.pennsnortheast.comWhen you think Northeast...

Think Penn’s Northeast!

PNE Attache ad_final 10/31/05 3:11 PM Page 1

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 re-gion, 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 Pennsylva-nia 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 Health-care, where he now works as the financial op-erations 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.”

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.

Bo

tt

om

ph

ot

o c

ou

rt

es

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he

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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 tunnelthrough 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.

Quick FactsLocated 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.


a r e g i o n o f c h o i c e n o r t h e a s t p e n n s y l v a n i as p o n s o r e d s e c t i o n

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 Technolo-gy Partners of Northeast Pennsylvania, an agent of resource transfer to emerging busi-ness, 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 follow-ing a period when we were forced to reinvent ourselves,” said Stephen Barrouk, president and CEO of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Cham-ber of Business and Industry. Northeast Pennsylvania now sports a di-verse economy that includes electronics, printing, logistics, financial services, health-care, 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 corri-dors 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 Com-merce Trade Park East near Pittston and Val-ley 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.”


Work HardPlay 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 informationtechnology, companies find the skills theyneed in Wilkes-Barre. We feature five highly ranked colleges anduniversities, an unbeatable quality of life, and we’re within 500 miles of 80 percent of the nation’s buying power.

Visit Greater Wilkes-Barre. We’ll knock you out… in a nice way, of course.

(570) 823-2101 [email protected] www.wilkes-barre.org/ed

wilkes-barre2 10/28/05 2:29 PM Page 1

Northeast?Aiming

forthe

Target your business in Hazleton, PAGreater Hazleton is a bull’s-eye for business and industry aiming at the Northeast.

We’re strategically located at the crossroads ofInterstates 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 workethic and a wide range of talents to fit almost anyindustry’s needs.

You’ll enjoy the benefits of easy access to majormarkets in the Northeast without the “major market”expenses.

Plainly speaking, Greater Hazleton is really on target.

Phone: 1.800.54.CANDO 570.455.1508Email: [email protected]: www.hazletoncando.com

HAZLETON AD 10/28/05 1:33 PM Page 1The 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.

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.

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a r e g i o n o f c h o i c e n o r t h e a s t p e n n s y l v a n i as p o n s o r e d s e c t i o n

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 Technolo-gy Partners of Northeast Pennsylvania, an agent of resource transfer to emerging busi-ness, 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 follow-ing a period when we were forced to reinvent ourselves,” said Stephen Barrouk, president and CEO of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Cham-ber of Business and Industry. Northeast Pennsylvania now sports a di-verse economy that includes electronics, printing, logistics, financial services, health-care, 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 corri-dors 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 Com-merce Trade Park East near Pittston and Val-ley 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.”


Work HardPlay 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 informationtechnology, companies find the skills theyneed in Wilkes-Barre. We feature five highly ranked colleges anduniversities, an unbeatable quality of life, and we’re within 500 miles of 80 percent of the nation’s buying power.

Visit Greater Wilkes-Barre. We’ll knock you out… in a nice way, of course.

(570) 823-2101 [email protected] www.wilkes-barre.org/ed

wilkes-barre2 10/28/05 2:29 PM Page 1

Northeast?Aiming

forthe

Target your business in Hazleton, PAGreater Hazleton is a bull’s-eye for business and industry aiming at the Northeast.

We’re strategically located at the crossroads ofInterstates 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 workethic and a wide range of talents to fit almost anyindustry’s needs.

You’ll enjoy the benefits of easy access to majormarkets in the Northeast without the “major market”expenses.

Plainly speaking, Greater Hazleton is really on target.

Phone: 1.800.54.CANDO 570.455.1508Email: [email protected]: www.hazletoncando.com

HAZLETON AD 10/28/05 1:33 PM Page 1The 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.

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.

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Bui lding Solut ions to Suit You.

by

Extending the Boundaries of Business.When you take your business to CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park, you take it to the next level.Withapproximately 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 spacebeing privately developed by Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services—the largest commercial/industrialreal estate developer in Northeast Pennsylvania. CenterPoint can extend your company’s capabilities withincentives that include an unbeatable location, Foreign Trade Zone Status, and tax exemptions that arealready in place. Still wrestling with decisions about business location? Get to the Point—CenterPoint.

Call Mericle today at 1-800-MERICLE or visit us at www.mericle.com.

5845_MERICLE_SPREAD 11/3/05 3:12 PM Page 2

Governor Rendell Has Big Plans For Pennsylvania

—And So Do We.

Vision. Strategy. Action.Whether the CEO of a successful business orthe Governor of a growing state, that's the formula that makes atruly great leader. In 2002, Pennsylvania elected a great leader,who is turning his vision of a new, more business-friendly, moreglobally-competitive Pennsylvania into a reality. Governor Ed Rendell'sStimulus Package is one of the most comprehensive and flexiblefinancing initiatives in the country, with $2.3 billion to jumpstarteconomic development opportunities across the state. By partnering

with private developers like Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services,whose new CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park will bring 2,500 jobsto Northeast PA with the completion of its first phase alone,Governor Rendell continues to demonstrate his commitment tocreating jobs, bolstering business growth and revitalizing ourcommunities. If you're looking for a business location that will giveyour company a competitive edge, Pennsylvania is the place foryou—and we've got the formula to prove it.

Enacting a Plan for a New Pennsylvania.

“Pennsylvania is aggressively competing for new jobs andbusiness investment…we are using our resources and uniqueeconomic development tools to not only help existing companiesexpand, but also to prepare for future growth by making surewe have sites ready to meet business needs.”

—Governor Ed Rendell


Bui lding Solut ions to Suit You.

by

Extending the Boundaries of Business.When you take your business to CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park, you take it to the next level.Withapproximately 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 spacebeing privately developed by Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services—the largest commercial/industrialreal estate developer in Northeast Pennsylvania. CenterPoint can extend your company’s capabilities withincentives that include an unbeatable location, Foreign Trade Zone Status, and tax exemptions that arealready in place. Still wrestling with decisions about business location? Get to the Point—CenterPoint.

Call Mericle today at 1-800-MERICLE or visit us at www.mericle.com.


Governor Rendell Has Big Plans For Pennsylvania

—And So Do We.

Vision. Strategy. Action.Whether the CEO of a successful business orthe Governor of a growing state, that's the formula that makes atruly great leader. In 2002, Pennsylvania elected a great leader,who is turning his vision of a new, more business-friendly, moreglobally-competitive Pennsylvania into a reality. Governor Ed Rendell'sStimulus Package is one of the most comprehensive and flexiblefinancing initiatives in the country, with $2.3 billion to jumpstarteconomic development opportunities across the state. By partnering

with private developers like Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services,whose new CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park will bring 2,500 jobsto Northeast PA with the completion of its first phase alone,Governor Rendell continues to demonstrate his commitment tocreating jobs, bolstering business growth and revitalizing ourcommunities. If you're looking for a business location that will giveyour company a competitive edge, Pennsylvania is the place foryou—and we've got the formula to prove it.

Enacting a Plan for a New Pennsylvania.

“Pennsylvania is aggressively competing for new jobs andbusiness investment…we are using our resources and uniqueeconomic development tools to not only help existing companiesexpand, but also to prepare for future growth by making surewe have sites ready to meet business needs.”

—Governor Ed Rendell




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 develop-ment 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 Scran-ton?’ Those men stepped out of line. The guy then said, ‘The rest of you can go home.’ It speaks volumes about our reputation.”

Real Estate can be risky, but it can also be rewarding. Making the right decisions makes all thedifference.At Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, we’re willing to take some risks sothat our clients won’t have to, and that’s been no small part of our success in becomingNortheastern Pennsylvania’s largest commercial and industrial developer. Currently we havenewly constructed spec opportunities ranging from a 128,000 SF multi-tenant building tolight industrial buildings that vary in size from 210,000 SF to 1,200,000 SF. Start on our specand end on yours.That’s one way Mericle takes away your risk and increases your rewards.

Call 1-800-MERICLE or visit www.mericle.com today to learn more. Bui lding Solut ions to Suit You.

AllowUs to Speculate.501,600 SF state-of-the-art cross-docked buildingcan be subdivided to 250,800 SF or expanded to1,000,000 SF. KOEZ-Approved, tax-free until 12/31/13.

396,800 SF can be expanded to 644,800 SF and is thefirst big box construction in the new CenterPointCommerce & Trade Park. Expect Mericle MaxAdvantages and unparalleled access to I-81 and I-476.This site has Foreign Trade Zone status andtax-exemptions already in place.

210,000 SF light industrial building can be subdividedto 105,000 SF and expanded to 504,000 SF. Thisbuilding is KOZ-Approved, tax-free until 12/31/10, andhas existing rail service on site.

140,800 SF multi-tenant building located in the JessupSmall Business Center can be subdivided into 6,000 SFspaces. KOEZ-Approved, tax-free until 12/31/13.

AVAILABLE SPEC BUILDINGS:

5845_Mericle_HALF_FINAL 11/3/05 3:35 PM Page 1

Project1 11/7/05 4:26 PM Page 1

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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.

CTE gives until it helps. Michael Mahoney believes in building more than net-works. 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,” Ma-honey 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 consecu-tive years, and 13 of the last 15 years.”

Technology helps, too. “We offer a full array of advanced telecommunications products and services, including broad-band data services and high-speed internet access. these services are delivered over our robust, redundant, 100 percent digitally switched, fiber-rich network.”

Quick Facts CTE



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 develop-ment 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 Scran-ton?’ Those men stepped out of line. The guy then said, ‘The rest of you can go home.’ It speaks volumes about our reputation.”

Real Estate can be risky, but it can also be rewarding. Making the right decisions makes all thedifference.At Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, we’re willing to take some risks sothat our clients won’t have to, and that’s been no small part of our success in becomingNortheastern Pennsylvania’s largest commercial and industrial developer. Currently we havenewly constructed spec opportunities ranging from a 128,000 SF multi-tenant building tolight industrial buildings that vary in size from 210,000 SF to 1,200,000 SF. Start on our specand end on yours.That’s one way Mericle takes away your risk and increases your rewards.

Call 1-800-MERICLE or visit www.mericle.com today to learn more. Bui lding Solut ions to Suit You.

AllowUs to Speculate.501,600 SF state-of-the-art cross-docked buildingcan be subdivided to 250,800 SF or expanded to1,000,000 SF. KOEZ-Approved, tax-free until 12/31/13.

396,800 SF can be expanded to 644,800 SF and is thefirst big box construction in the new CenterPointCommerce & Trade Park. Expect Mericle MaxAdvantages and unparalleled access to I-81 and I-476.This site has Foreign Trade Zone status andtax-exemptions already in place.

210,000 SF light industrial building can be subdividedto 105,000 SF and expanded to 504,000 SF. Thisbuilding is KOZ-Approved, tax-free until 12/31/10, andhas existing rail service on site.

140,800 SF multi-tenant building located in the JessupSmall Business Center can be subdivided into 6,000 SFspaces. KOEZ-Approved, tax-free until 12/31/13.

AVAILABLE SPEC BUILDINGS:

5845_Mericle_HALF_FINAL 11/3/05 3:35 PM Page 1

Project1 11/7/05 4:26 PM Page 1

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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.

CTE gives until it helps. Michael Mahoney believes in building more than net-works. 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,” Ma-honey 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 consecu-tive years, and 13 of the last 15 years.”

Technology helps, too. “We offer a full array of advanced telecommunications products and services, including broad-band data services and high-speed internet access. these services are delivered over our robust, redundant, 100 percent digitally switched, fiber-rich network.”

Quick Facts CTE

Like Phil Mortell, Kristopher Jones was in a jam. Armed with advanced de-grees 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 pepperjam-SEARCH, offering e-commerce solutions such as search-engine optimization and paid search-engine placement to more than 1,500 companies. Jones is also recog-nized by the chambers of commerce of both Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre as an in-novator, 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

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.

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.

key industry

andcommerce


old is new again in northeast PaForeVer YoUng

n e p e n n s y l v a n i a a r e g i o n o f c h o i c e s p o n s o r e d s e c t i o naccent

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.

THE LARGEST AND FINEST REGIONAL HOSPITAL: Wilkes-Barre General Hospital is Northeastern Pennsylvania’s most comprehensive health care facility, with services including:

• 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.

wvhcs.org

The Health CareLeader inNortheasternPennsylvania...

P A S T .

P R E S E N T .

F U T U R E .

SYS-E 448 11/7/05 1:25 PM Page 1

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Like Phil Mortell, Kristopher Jones was in a jam. Armed with advanced de-grees 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 pepperjam-SEARCH, offering e-commerce solutions such as search-engine optimization and paid search-engine placement to more than 1,500 companies. Jones is also recog-nized by the chambers of commerce of both Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre as an in-novator, 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

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.

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.

key industry

andcommerce


old is new again in northeast PaForeVer YoUng


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.

THE LARGEST AND FINEST REGIONAL HOSPITAL: Wilkes-Barre General Hospital is Northeastern Pennsylvania’s most comprehensive health care facility, with services including:

• 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.

wvhcs.org

The Health CareLeader inNortheasternPennsylvania...

P A S T .

P R E S E N T .

F U T U R E .

SYS-E 448 11/7/05 1:25 PM Page 1

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of any age. “There are a number of things that are at-tractive 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 oppor-tunities for well-educated young people who are motivated and who want a good quality of life.” The region already has some heavy-hit-ters. 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 indus-try 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 Lackawa-nna County sports similar ratios, with healthcare employing 25 percent more work-ers than the next nearest industry, manufac-turing. In the Poconos, the ratios change to reflect the region’s focus on tourism: Monroe County’s top industries are retail trade, ac-commodation and food services, healthcare

and the arts and entertainment. Looking to diversity even further, the re-gion is courting a wide range of business, in-cluding plastics, technology and back-office operations. The latter is especially critical to

the future of the region, according to Con-gressman Kanjorski, who co-authored a white paper on providing back-up financial

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 Gover-nors of the Federal Reserve System, the Of-fice of the Comptroller of the Currency and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commis-sion—set a goal of ensuring that “key organi-zations in critical financial markets are able to recover clearing and settlement activities in the event of a wide-scale disruption as rap-idly as possible.” The agencies want firms to have “an ap-propriate level of geographic diversity be-tween primary and back-up sites” and warn that backup sites “should not rely on the same infrastructure components (e.g., trans-portation, 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 Man-hattan yet is located in a different power grid, telecommunications grid and watershed. Penn’s Northeast’s five counties and 765,000

Pocono Mountains Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.,1004 Main Street, Box USAA, Stroudsburg, PA 18360

Call 1-800-722-9199 or visit poconomeetings.com.Send an email to [email protected] formore information.

The Pocono Mountains–the perfect place to hold your nextcompany meeting. With more than a dozen state-of-the-artfacilities, over 8000 rooms, challenging recreation andmore–it's picture perfect.

• 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.

FACILITATE. RECREATE. CELEBRATE.

1.800.722.9199

Attache Ad 11/2/05 3:07 PM Page 1

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.

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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.

Quick FactsPhillies 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.



of any age. “There are a number of things that are at-tractive 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 oppor-tunities for well-educated young people who are motivated and who want a good quality of life.” The region already has some heavy-hit-ters. 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 indus-try 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 Lackawa-nna County sports similar ratios, with healthcare employing 25 percent more work-ers than the next nearest industry, manufac-turing. In the Poconos, the ratios change to reflect the region’s focus on tourism: Monroe County’s top industries are retail trade, ac-commodation and food services, healthcare

and the arts and entertainment. Looking to diversity even further, the re-gion is courting a wide range of business, in-cluding plastics, technology and back-office operations. The latter is especially critical to

the future of the region, according to Con-gressman Kanjorski, who co-authored a white paper on providing back-up financial

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 Gover-nors of the Federal Reserve System, the Of-fice of the Comptroller of the Currency and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commis-sion—set a goal of ensuring that “key organi-zations in critical financial markets are able to recover clearing and settlement activities in the event of a wide-scale disruption as rap-idly as possible.” The agencies want firms to have “an ap-propriate level of geographic diversity be-tween primary and back-up sites” and warn that backup sites “should not rely on the same infrastructure components (e.g., trans-portation, 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 Man-hattan yet is located in a different power grid, telecommunications grid and watershed. Penn’s Northeast’s five counties and 765,000

Pocono Mountains Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.,1004 Main Street, Box USAA, Stroudsburg, PA 18360

Call 1-800-722-9199 or visit poconomeetings.com.Send an email to [email protected] formore information.

The Pocono Mountains–the perfect place to hold your nextcompany meeting. With more than a dozen state-of-the-artfacilities, over 8000 rooms, challenging recreation andmore–it's picture perfect.

• 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.

FACILITATE. RECREATE. CELEBRATE.

1.800.722.9199

Attache Ad 11/2/05 3:07 PM Page 1

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.

ph

ot

o c

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es

y o

f t

he

sc

ra

nt

on

/WiL

ke

s-

Ba

rr

e r

ed

Ba

ro

ns

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.

Quick FactsPhillies 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.




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-em-ployee 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-employ-ee trading company), the dif-ference would result in a sav-ings of $15.1 million over five years. Taxes are lower, too. If that company moved into 100,000 square feet in a Key-stone Opportunity Expansion Zone, the firm would save $20.2 million in taxes over the first five years.

Infrastructure is critical for back-office operations, and economic developers here believe they have what it takes. In addition to transportation and telecommunication net-works, the region offers access to two airports, Lehigh Valley International near Allentownand Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Inter-national (AVP) in Avoca. AVP offers one-stop service to more than 450 destinations worldwide with 70 daily

arrivals and departures to 12 major hubs. Some 201,800 people departed from the air-port last year, and this year’s numbers are

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 Bu-reau 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

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 Hallow-een, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell showed up in the Po-conos bearing treats in the form of $10 million in grants and loans for economic growth. Po-cono Mountains Industries, a not-for-profit development cor-poration, will use its money to extend infrastructure to Arcadia North Business Park in Cool-baugh Township, Monroe County. Under development by private developer Arcadia Prop-erties LLC of Bethlehem, Penn-sylvania, the 600-acre business park will accommodate logistics facilities as large as 2 million sqaure feet, plus light manufac-turing and office operations.

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 locat-ed in the area within the last two years, like igourmet.com and Solid Cactus, which helps young people who want to get involved in e-commerce. Now they can have a high-paying job and stay here.”

Nonstop to 12 major hubs

One stop to hundreds of destinations worldwide

(877) 2FLYAVP www.flyavp.com

Your Gateway to Northeast Pennsylvania

and the Pocono Mountains. . . . . . . . . .



US Airways Attaché ★ December 2005 133

AttDEC05_NEpenn11_03.indd 137 11/8/05 3:53:02 PM

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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.

the discovery of rich iron-ore deposits in Lackawanna county in the 1700s led to a business boom of blast furnaces and forges.



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-em-ployee 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-employ-ee trading company), the dif-ference would result in a sav-ings of $15.1 million over five years. Taxes are lower, too. If that company moved into 100,000 square feet in a Key-stone Opportunity Expansion Zone, the firm would save $20.2 million in taxes over the first five years.

Infrastructure is critical for back-office operations, and economic developers here believe they have what it takes. In addition to transportation and telecommunication net-works, the region offers access to two airports, Lehigh Valley International near Allentownand Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Inter-national (AVP) in Avoca. AVP offers one-stop service to more than 450 destinations worldwide with 70 daily

arrivals and departures to 12 major hubs. Some 201,800 people departed from the air-port last year, and this year’s numbers are

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 Bu-reau 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

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 Hallow-een, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell showed up in the Po-conos bearing treats in the form of $10 million in grants and loans for economic growth. Po-cono Mountains Industries, a not-for-profit development cor-poration, will use its money to extend infrastructure to Arcadia North Business Park in Cool-baugh Township, Monroe County. Under development by private developer Arcadia Prop-erties LLC of Bethlehem, Penn-sylvania, the 600-acre business park will accommodate logistics facilities as large as 2 million sqaure feet, plus light manufac-turing and office operations.

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 locat-ed in the area within the last two years, like igourmet.com and Solid Cactus, which helps young people who want to get involved in e-commerce. Now they can have a high-paying job and stay here.”

Nonstop to 12 major hubs

One stop to hundreds of destinations worldwide

(877) 2FLYAVP www.flyavp.com






AttDEC05_NEpenn11_03.indd 137 11/8/05 3:53:02 PM

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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.

the discovery of rich iron-ore deposits in Lackawanna county in the 1700s led to a business boom of blast furnaces and forges.

Daniel 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 far-ranging places as Slovakia and the former So-viet 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 sys-tems,” 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 af-fects healthcare and healthcare in turn affects industry.” The key to economic growth is not as ap-

The Georgian/American Partnership for Rehabilitation and

Special Education links

professionals at the

University of Scranton and

their counterparts in the

former Soviet Union.


healthYglobetrotters bring world-class healthcare


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 championat 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.

bUsiness

As One of Pocono MedicalCenter’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…”

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 accelera-

tors. Varian selected the Hughes

Cancer Center as one of thirty-

seven Strategic Partners world-

wide, enabling us to be at the

forefront of the latest cancer-

fighting modalities.

PMC reaches beyond the diag-

nosis 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 Designa-

tion based on our exemplary

multidisciplinary approach

to cancer care.

Strategic Partnership withVarian Medical Systems

Complete Cancer Care–Treating the Whole Person

5 7 0 . 4 2 1 . 4 0 0 0 www.poconohealthsystem.org

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

Page131CancerCare 11/8/05 1:20 PM Page 1

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s

healthcare

Quick Facts

canoeing down the susquehanna river in pennsylvania can be physically taxing but good for the heart and soul.

Daniel 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 far-ranging places as Slovakia and the former So-viet 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 sys-tems,” 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 af-fects healthcare and healthcare in turn affects industry.” The key to economic growth is not as ap-

The Georgian/American Partnership for Rehabilitation and

Special Education links

professionals at the

University of Scranton and

their counterparts in the

former Soviet Union.


healthYglobetrotters bring world-class healthcare


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 championat 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.

bUsiness

As One of Pocono MedicalCenter’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…”

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 accelera-

tors. Varian selected the Hughes

Cancer Center as one of thirty-

seven Strategic Partners world-

wide, enabling us to be at the

forefront of the latest cancer-

fighting modalities.

PMC reaches beyond the diag-

nosis 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 Designa-

tion based on our exemplary

multidisciplinary approach

to cancer care.

Strategic Partnership withVarian Medical Systems

Complete Cancer Care–Treating the Whole Person


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

Page131CancerCare 11/8/05 1:20 PM Page 1

ra

ym

on

d g

eh

ma

n / g

et

ty

ima

ge

s

healthcare

Quick Facts

canoeing down the susquehanna river in pennsylvania can be physically taxing but good for the heart and soul.



parent in Northeastern Pennsylvania as it is overseas, he said, but the connection is there. West has spent years teaching and exchang-ing information with his colleagues abroad. He is the director of the Georgian/American Part-nership for Rehabilitation and Special Educa-tion, an organization that links professionals at the University of Scranton with their counter-parts in the former Soviet republic to exchange best practices. He was recently appointed af-filiated faculty at Tbilisi State Medical Univer-sity 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 grant-ed. “The strong primary-care base in North-east 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 employ-ment, with 16.75 percent of jobs compared to manufacturing at 18.38 percent, the North-east Pennsylvania Business Journal recently reported. Healthcare also ranks second to manufacturing’s 25.3 percent of regional pay-roll at 20.6 percent. “Healthcare is either No. 1 or No. 2 in ev-ery county [in Pennsylvania],” said Stephen Foreman, Ph.D., director of allied health and

associate professor of healthcare administra-tion and economics at Robert Morris Univer-sity near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. “Pun in-tended, it’s probably one of your healthier industries.” In 2004, healthcare practitioner and tech-nical occupations accounted for 18,100 jobs with a mean annual salary of $47,240 in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton metropoli-tan statistical area, according to the U.S. De-partment of Labor. Healthcare support occu-pations accounted for an additional 7,860 jobs at a mean annual salary of $23,080. Medical care is serious business in North-east 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 Al-lied 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 proj-ect manager and will soon commission a study to determine the feasibility of locating a medi-

cal school in the Lackawanna County area. While those existing facilities provide ba-sic 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 gen-erated 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 occupa-tional 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-man-agement 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.”

Through the Innovative Use of Wireless Technology,

Pocono Medical Center 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…”

Through careful study and innova-

tive 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%.

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.

Setting New Standards in Emergency Care

The Gold-Standard in PatientMedication Delivery Systems


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

Page133ERCare 11/8/05 1:20 PM Page 1

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.

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 des-ignated 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 interven-tional cardiac and peripheral catheterizations.

Pocono Medical Center Grows With the RegionRichard Henley knows how to make an entrance.

healthcare



parent in Northeastern Pennsylvania as it is overseas, he said, but the connection is there. West has spent years teaching and exchang-ing information with his colleagues abroad. He is the director of the Georgian/American Part-nership for Rehabilitation and Special Educa-tion, an organization that links professionals at the University of Scranton with their counter-parts in the former Soviet republic to exchange best practices. He was recently appointed af-filiated faculty at Tbilisi State Medical Univer-sity 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 grant-ed. “The strong primary-care base in North-east 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 employ-ment, with 16.75 percent of jobs compared to manufacturing at 18.38 percent, the North-east Pennsylvania Business Journal recently reported. Healthcare also ranks second to manufacturing’s 25.3 percent of regional pay-roll at 20.6 percent. “Healthcare is either No. 1 or No. 2 in ev-ery county [in Pennsylvania],” said Stephen Foreman, Ph.D., director of allied health and

associate professor of healthcare administra-tion and economics at Robert Morris Univer-sity near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. “Pun in-tended, it’s probably one of your healthier industries.” In 2004, healthcare practitioner and tech-nical occupations accounted for 18,100 jobs with a mean annual salary of $47,240 in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton metropoli-tan statistical area, according to the U.S. De-partment of Labor. Healthcare support occu-pations accounted for an additional 7,860 jobs at a mean annual salary of $23,080. Medical care is serious business in North-east 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 Al-lied 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 proj-ect manager and will soon commission a study to determine the feasibility of locating a medi-

cal school in the Lackawanna County area. While those existing facilities provide ba-sic 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 gen-erated 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 occupa-tional 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-man-agement 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.”

Through the Innovative Use of Wireless Technology,

Pocono Medical Center 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…”

Through careful study and innova-

tive 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%.

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.

Setting New Standards in Emergency Care

The Gold-Standard in PatientMedication Delivery Systems


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

Page133ERCare 11/8/05 1:20 PM Page 1

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.

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 des-ignated 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 interven-tional cardiac and peripheral catheterizations.

Pocono Medical Center Grows With the RegionRichard Henley knows how to make an entrance.

healthcare

s p o n s o r e d s e c t i o naccent


a r e g i o n o f c h o i c e n o r t h e a s t p e n n s y l v a n i as p o n s o r e d s e c t i o naccent

Fifteen years ago, Mericle Commercial Real Estate would construct a 50,000- square-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 low- interest 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 Pennsylva-nia, 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.”

“When I came to Harrisburg,

I said we were going to

do things differently.”

–Pennsylvania Governor

Ed Rendell

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.)


real estate driVes northeast Pa economYreal Progress

n e p e n n s y l v a n i a a r e g i o n o f c h o i c e

The governor agreed. “Pennsylvania con-tinues to use its resources to create and retain jobs,” Rendell said. “In addition to helping existing companies, we’re investing in the fu-ture 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 indus-trial real estate market is boom-ing. 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 com-mercial real estate services com-pany. In the office-construction market, first-half sales of central business district properties have increased 22 percent while subur-ban property sales have risen 75 percent from a year ago. Northeastern Pennsylvania is participating in that growth. With-in the past 18 months, several new tenants have moved into local in-dustrial parks, including Raflatac (adhesive labels), Simmons Bed-

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 lo-gistical 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

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

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

centers, which are a little north of New York City to a little south of Philadelphia,” said Wetherill, senior regional development offi-cer with Exton, Pennsylvania, based First In-dustrial Realty Trust, a REIT with 62 million square feet of industrial space under man-agement. “New Jersey is too expensive. That

leaves south central Pennsylvania, but there’s no land left in Harrisburg [for distribution centers] and Carl-isle 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 pur-chased 800 acres in Covington In-dustrial Park on I-380 near Scran-ton, 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 Prop-erties of Bethlehem and Higgins

Development Partners in Chicago to place big bets on the area by constructing more space on spec. Whether that success is due to the dili-gence 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/indus-trial market here.”

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‘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

QuickFacts 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.

s p o n s o r e d s e c t i o naccent


a r e g i o n o f c h o i c e n o r t h e a s t p e n n s y l v a n i as p o n s o r e d s e c t i o naccent

Fifteen years ago, Mericle Commercial Real Estate would construct a 50,000- square-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 low- interest 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 Pennsylva-nia, 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.”

“When I came to Harrisburg,

I said we were going to

do things differently.”

–Pennsylvania Governor

Ed Rendell

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.)


real estate driVes northeast Pa economYreal Progress

n e p e n n s y l v a n i a a r e g i o n o f c h o i c e

The governor agreed. “Pennsylvania con-tinues to use its resources to create and retain jobs,” Rendell said. “In addition to helping existing companies, we’re investing in the fu-ture 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 indus-trial real estate market is boom-ing. 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 com-mercial real estate services com-pany. In the office-construction market, first-half sales of central business district properties have increased 22 percent while subur-ban property sales have risen 75 percent from a year ago. Northeastern Pennsylvania is participating in that growth. With-in the past 18 months, several new tenants have moved into local in-dustrial parks, including Raflatac (adhesive labels), Simmons Bed-

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 lo-gistical 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

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

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

centers, which are a little north of New York City to a little south of Philadelphia,” said Wetherill, senior regional development offi-cer with Exton, Pennsylvania, based First In-dustrial Realty Trust, a REIT with 62 million square feet of industrial space under man-agement. “New Jersey is too expensive. That

leaves south central Pennsylvania, but there’s no land left in Harrisburg [for distribution centers] and Carl-isle 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 pur-chased 800 acres in Covington In-dustrial Park on I-380 near Scran-ton, 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 Prop-erties of Bethlehem and Higgins

Development Partners in Chicago to place big bets on the area by constructing more space on spec. Whether that success is due to the dili-gence 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/indus-trial market here.”

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‘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

QuickFacts 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.

a r e g i o n o f c h o i c e n o r t h e a s t p e n n s y l v a n i a



Tracy 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 anthra-cite 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 bet-ter life for their children. Their customs and work ethic have been passed down through the generations, and the church is an impor-tant part of their culture.” It was the mines and rails that attracted immigrants from all over Europe, from Ger-many, Lithuania, Ireland, Slovakia, Lebanon, Russia, and the Middle East. But it was the church where they celebrated.

Set in Scranton, NBC’s adaptation of the hit BBC show “The Office” portrays life at the fictional

paper-supplies company

Dunder-Mifflin.


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.

american heritageFrom Polkas to PoP, northeast Pa aims to entertain


First-Class Resorts & Hotels

Easy Access for I-81, I-84,I-80, I-476 Crossroadsand Wilkes-Barre/ScrantonInternational Airport

Challenging Golf, Full- ServiceSpas & Outlet Shopping!

NEW! Coming Summer ’06Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs– slots, live harness racing.

BUSINESSCOMES

In Northeast Pennsylvania

WILKES-BARRE/HAZLETON

Naturally

1-888-905-2872 • www.TOURNEPA.com

Plan to Be Here!Plan to Be Here!

Luzerne Co. - Attache ’05 F 11/2/05 11:10 AM Page 1

Quick Factsliving

tourism

a r e g i o n o f c h o i c e n o r t h e a s t p e n n s y l v a n i a



Tracy 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 anthra-cite 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 bet-ter life for their children. Their customs and work ethic have been passed down through the generations, and the church is an impor-tant part of their culture.” It was the mines and rails that attracted immigrants from all over Europe, from Ger-many, Lithuania, Ireland, Slovakia, Lebanon, Russia, and the Middle East. But it was the church where they celebrated.

Set in Scranton, NBC’s adaptation of the hit BBC show “The Office” portrays life at the fictional

paper-supplies company

Dunder-Mifflin.


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.

american heritageFrom Polkas to PoP, northeast Pa aims to entertain


First-Class Resorts & Hotels

Easy Access for I-81, I-84,I-80, I-476 Crossroadsand Wilkes-Barre/ScrantonInternational Airport

Challenging Golf, Full- ServiceSpas & Outlet Shopping!

NEW! Coming Summer ’06Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs– slots, live harness racing.

BUSINESSCOMES

In Northeast Pennsylvania

WILKES-BARRE/HAZLETON

Naturally

1-888-905-2872 • www.TOURNEPA.com

Plan to Be Here!Plan to Be Here!

Luzerne Co. - Attache ’05 F 11/2/05 11:10 AM Page 1

Quick Factsliving

tourism


Travelers interested in sampling the re-gion’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 Catho-lic Church, all in Scranton. As important as they are to the fabric of the community, festivals aren’t the only heri-tage 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 gen-erates about $500 million a year in Lackawa-

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 Lu-zerne County Convention and Visitors Bu-reau. 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 Po-cono 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 white-water 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 nu-merous 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 heri-tage 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.


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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.

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.

Documents

s p o n s o r e d s e c t i o n CTE Ad for Atache Mag ... · Wilkes-Barre, hazleton, and Berwick) and Monroe, pike, and Wayne (in the pocono Mountains, known for tourism and resort