Author: PMEDC

The most recently announced round of more than $6.2 million in gaming fund revenues generated by Mount Airy Resort and Casino and distributed through the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) will fund major utility, roadway, and job creation initiatives in Monroe County, along with a number of community improvement projects.

The Monroe County Industrial Development Authority (MCIDA) was awarded six grants for projects including $1.2 million for a planned extension of natural gas lines to underserved industrial areas of Monroe County for construction costs. The gas line will give area industry access to natural gas service and help attract new job-generating industries to the area.

Projects in Mount Pocono will receive a total of more than $1.3 million. The Mount Pocono Municipal Authority will receive $900,000 in land acquisition funds to add a spray irrigation facility to its sewage treatment plant, while $450,000 will support safety improvements along Pine Hill Road between routes 611 and 196. A significant portion of the county’s industrial land inventory is located in or near the borough.

In all, nine projects, along with money earmarked for the expansion of Northampton Community College’s Tannersville Campus will receive more than $6.2 million in funds generated by the Pennsylvania Horse Race and Gaming Development Act, or Act 71, which set up a “local share assessment account” (LSA) and required Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development to distribute money that is generated by licensed gaming facilities to support community and economic development projects and mitigate the impact of gaming activities. The 2012 distribution of more than $6.2 million represents a very slight increase over 2011 gaming revenue.
“The gas line extension and spray irrigation projects, in particular, target important needs,” says MCIDA Executive Director Chuck Leonard. “Combined with the sewer project and road improvements from last year’s grant distribution, we continue to improve the quality of our local infrastructure.”

“Beyond our transportation infrastructure, easy access to varied power supplies and sewage capacity play a big role in attracting job creating companies to Monroe County” The $6.2 million distribution represents only 50 percent of Mt. Airy’s contribution to the local share account. Commonwealth law mandates that Monroe County must share gaming fund revenues equally with neighboring counties.

Leonard points out that since the initial distribution of LSA funds in 2009; Monroe County has received more than $23 million in support of local initiatives.

“Take a quick drive around the area and you can see that money at work,” he says. “For example, the new cancer center at Pocono Medical Center is nearly complete and the Pocono Mountains Municipal Airport expansion is already attracting the kind of corporate flights we anticipated.”
The Monroe County Industrial Development Authority is part of the Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corporation, a non-profit economic development corporation dedicated to creating jobs for Monroe County residents, expanding the county’s tax base and attracting new investment with the direct support of the Monroe County Commissioners. More information on economic development in Monroe County can be found at www.www.pmedc.com

More information on the local share assessment account is available at www.newpa.com or by calling 1-866-466-3972.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: In addition to $2.4 million to fund costs associated with the expansion of Northampton Community College’s Tannersville campus, The Monroe County Industrial Development Authority received LSA funding for the following Monroe County projects:

• $1.2 million will be used for the construction of a natural gas line extension to industrial areas of Monroe County that are currently not served. The gas line will give area industry access to natural gas service and help attract new job-generating industries to the area.

• The Mount Pocono Municipal Authority received $900,000 for land acquisition around its treatment plant on Route 611. The land acquisition will facilitate construction of a spray irrigation system at the plant.

• Mount Pocono Borough received a $450,000 grant for safety improvements along Pine Hill Road between routes 611 and 196.

• Waste Not Technologies, a Saylorsburg-area manufacturer of post and rail fencing make of recycled plastic will receive $500,000 to help cover expansion costs.

• The Pocono Mountain Public Library will receive $200,000 towards ongoing construction of a new $4.8 million facility on the grounds of the Coolbaugh Township Municipal Building to replace the existing library

• The Buck Hill Inn Redevelopment Project has received $100,000. The group received a $90,000 LSA grant in 2011.

Other projects that received funding include:

• Pocono Township received a $194,000 grant to replace the Frantz Hill Road bridge. The funding will be used to replace a deteriorated culvert which resulted in a collapse of part of the bridge, forcing the bridge to be reduced to single lane of traffic.

• Delaware Water Gap received $165,634 to build a manganese removal system to be built at one of the borough’s water wells to remove manganese from the supply.

• Stroud Township received a $100,000 grant to construct a footbridge over Pocono Creek into Stroudsburg.

Ground was broken for a new full-service community college campus in Monroe County on October 18, 2011. “I’ve never seen so many happy smiles,” said Northampton Community College President Arthur Scott, looking over at an exuberant tent-full of supporters, faculty and staff.

Located on 72 scenic acres in Pocono Township, the campus will include science and computer labs, meeting rooms, a library, child care center, food court and athletic fields. It will accommodate 5,000 students as well as provide space for cultural events, community meetings, and Horizons for Youth programs for youngsters in grades K-12. The old campus on Old Mill Road, Tannersville, will be used for corporate training and adult continuing education programs. The campus will open to students in the fall of 2014.

Northampton Community College has been providing courses in Monroe County since 1988. More than 45,000 county residents have taken classes at the College over the years. Last fall more than 17% of Monroe County high school graduates chose to start their college educations at NCC.

In addition, NCC’s Center for Business and Industry is a source of workforce for businesses such as sanofi Pasteur and others.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, special tribute was paid to Monroe philanthropists Pat and Kevin Hughes, sanofi Pasteur; and the Weiler Family Foundation for providing leadership gifts for a capital campaign that will provide the final funds needed to complete and equip the new campus. The campaign’s leadership team has already raised more than $3.6 million of the $5 million goal.

Other individuals who were acknowledged for helping to make the new campus possible were: State Senators Lisa Boscola and Pat Browne; former State Senators Charles Lemond, Ray Musto and the late Jim Rhodes; Representatives Mario Scavello, Mike Piefer, and Mike Carroll; former Congressman Paul Kanjorski; the Honorables Robert Mellow and John Siptroth; Chuck Leonard; Joe Uliana; Paul Canevari; Past County Commissioner Donna Asure; County Commissioners Suzanne McCool, Janet Weidensaul; and Teresa Merli; Damian Braga and Len Lavenda of sanofi Pasteur; NCC Foundation Board members Steve Sheptak and Charles Hannig; NCC Vice President for Administrative Affairs Helene Whitaker; Dean of the NCC Monroe Campus Matthew Connell, and members of NCC’s Board of Trustees.

Dr. Scott read commendations that Senator Robert Casey, Jr., delivered on the floor of the U.S. Senate and that now are part of the Congressional Record: “This undertaking will expand and improve educational opportunities for countless students for generations to come,” a portion of the statement proclaimed.

According to a study done by Steven N. Zaricki of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance, construction is expected to provide a significant economic boost for the region during tough economic times, generating up to $96.6 million in economic activity and $8.8 million in tax revenue for Monroe County and the surrounding area over the next three years.

In terms of jobs, Zaricki estimates that the project will support approximately 310 jobs in 2012 and 281 jobs in 2013, with the number of jobs related to the new campus growing to as many as 654 by 2019.

Completion of the new state-of-the-art Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center at Pocono Medical Center is one step closer after the Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corporation (PMEDC) presented Pocono Health System/Pocono Medical Center with a check for $2 million to support the project.

The funds were initially allocated in 2010 via the Local Share Account (LSA) of gaming monies generated by the Mount Airy Casino Resort. The Monroe County Industrial Development Authority (MCIDA), a sister organization of PMEDC, administers local share account projects in Monroe County.

Kathleen E. Kuck, President and CEO of Pocono Health System/Pocono Medical Center explains, “We are very grateful to have received $2 million from the Local Share Account for the construction of the new Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center, a project vitally important to the health care of our community.”

“The new center allows us to have the most advanced technology and protocols available all under one roof and close to home for treating the leading cause of death in Monroe County,” she continues.

“I would like to take this time to thank and acknowledge all of our local, state, and federal officials, the Pocono Mountain Economic Development Corporation, and all of our generous supporters, for their kind support of this project and remind them how the lives of tomorrow’s cancer patients and their families will be significantly impacted in a positive way because of their support in making the new Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center a reality.”

Citing the cancer center as an example, PMEDC Executive Director Chuck Leonard points out that some important regional projects that benefit from LSA funding may not be obvious to the public.

“The public benefits from LSA in many unseen ways,” he says. “Whether it’s the recent airport expansion, new equipment at the Pocono Family YMCA or the new Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center, there are dozens of projects in this community that may not have come to fruition as quickly if not for that funding,” he continues.

“We owe thanks to the Monroe County Commissioners and our local legislators for supporting projects like these that will generate a return for the community.”

The Local Share Assessment Account was established by the Pennsylvania Horse Race and Gaming Development Act, as amended, requires the Commonwealth Financing Authority to distribute money that is generated by licensed gaming facilities to support community and economic development projects.

It should be emphasized that the Local Share Account funds is from a completely separate pool of money than that which is used to reduce property taxes across the Commonwealth. This money rewards host communities who worked to attract gaming licenses with funds for projects that provide benefit to the community.

TOBYHANNA – The most recent round of gaming fund revenues generated by Mount Airy Casino Resort and applied for through the Monroe County Industrial Development Authority (MCIDA) will fund major transportation, infrastructure, education, and economic development initiatives in Monroe County, along with a number of community improvement projects.

The county’s growing infrastructure needs will be served by $1.25 million slated to improve several local roadways and more than $1 million allocated to the Brodhead Creek Regional Authority to expand the Stroudsburg wastewater treatment facility. That expansion is crucial to provide connections to Pocono Township’s central sewer project, which is expected to be fully operational by 2013.

East Stroudsburg University and the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority will each receive nearly half a million dollars. ESU will use the money to expand its Center for Research and Economic Development. The Rail Authority will use the fund to acquire additional track from Norfolk Southern.

In all, 12 projects, along with money earmarked for the expansion of Northampton Community College’s Tannersville Campus will receive more than $6.1 million in funds generated by the Pennsylvania Horse Race and Gaming Development Act, or Act 71, which set up a “local share assessment account” (LSA) and required the Commonwealth Financing Authority to distribute money that is generated by licensed gaming facilities to support community and economic development projects. The 2011 distribution represents a 13 percent increase from last year

“Infrastructure improvements are a tremendous need,” says MCIDAExecutive Director Chuck Leonard. “That’s why you’re seeing so much money directed to the sewer projects and local road projects. Many people don’t realize the role that sewage capacity and quality local roads play in the quest to bring jobs to Monroe County. We’re thrilled that the CFA recognizes our needs and placed a priority on those projects.”

The $6.1 million distribution represents only 50 percent of Mt. Airy’s contribution to the local share account. Commonwealth law mandates that Monroe County must share gaming fund revenues equally with neighboring counties. Leonard also points out that since the initial distribution of LSA funds in 2009; Monroe County has received more than $17 million in support of local initiatives.

“Some of these projects are now complete or nearly complete,” says Leonard. “The Pocono Mountains Regional Airport just completed an expansion supported by more than $2 million in gaming revenue and if you look alongside I-80 in East Stroudsburg, you’ll see Pocono Medical Center’s new cancer center nearing completion, also supported by more than $2 million in gaming revenue.”

The Monroe County Industrial Development Authority is part of the Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corporation, a non-profit economic development corporation dedicated to creating jobs for Monroe County residents, expanding the county’s tax base and attracting new investment with the direct support of the Monroe County Commissioners. More information on economic development in Monroe County can be found at www.www.pmedc.com

More information on the local share assessment account is available at www.newpa.com or by calling 1-866-466-3972.

The Monroe County Industrial Development Authority received LSA funding for the following Monroe County projects:

• $1,047,275 to the Brodhead Creek Regional Authority for expansion of the Stroudsburg Wastewater Treatment Plant
• $459.550 to East Stroudsburg University’s Center for Research and Economic Development fo fund an expansion
• $454,500 to the PA Northeast Regional Railroad Authority for track acquisition
• $124,283 to the Sherman Theater to support a planned expansion
• $47,972 to the Eldred Township Historical Society for renovation of the Kunkletown Post Office
• $89,998 for a redevelopment project at the Buck Hill Inn

Other Projects that were approved include:

• $555,555 to Hamilton Township earmarked for replacing the Strawberry Hill Road bridge.
• $311,760 to Jackson Township to widen Twin Pine Road
• $311,759 to Jackson Township to widen Cays Road
• $200,000 to Barrett Township for the renovation of the former Barrett Friendly Library into a senior center
• $65,000 to Coolbaugh Township for improvements at Hemlock Drive and Route 611
• $63,225 to Chestnuthill Township for a realignment of Bush Lane

TOBYHANNA – Pocono Mountains Industries (PMI) announced today the first corporations, businesses, and individuals accepted as members under the not-for-profit’s restructured organizational plan.

“We are thrilled to welcome our new members and we look forward to the new ideas and energy they will contribute,” says PMI Executive Director Chuck Leonard.

The inaugural group includes Sincavage Investment and Development Enterprises, Corporation; Reilly Engineering; Michael Baxter & Associates; Northampton Community College; Desaki Restaurant; John Moyer; Michael J. Dougherty; and Thomas McKeown.

Late in 2010, PMI reorganized to maintain its status as Monroe County’s only certified processor of Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority loans. PMI is currently engaged in the initial stages of its first membership campaign. Interested business owners and individuals can learn more by calling (570) 839-1992 or visiting the Membership Page at www.PMEDC.com.

Pocono Mountains Industries is part of the Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corporation, a non-profit economic development corporation dedicated to creating jobs for Monroe County residents, expanding the county’s tax base and attracting new investment with the direct support of the Monroe County Commissioners. More information on economic development in Monroe County can be found at www.www.pmedc.com.

At the 30th Annual FAA Airports Conference in Hershey, PA on March 2, 2011, the Pocono Mountains Municipal Airport was named Airport of the Year for the FAA’s Eastern Region. Airport Manager Rich Kuban and Board Member Greg Christine were on hand to accept the award.

The award reads, in part, “We would like to acknowledge the Authority for the work resulting in the extension and widening of runway 13-31 to 5,001 feet…..This project demonstrated that a strong local funding commitment, not relying on FAA AIP alone, is the right answer for making a Sponsor’s vision for a corporate class airport into a reality.” The award refers to the funding partnership between the FAA, PA Dept. of Transportation (Bureau of Aviation) and Monroe County Local Share Account (gaming) sources.

“This is a testament to the sound vision that was shared by the Airport Authority, Monroe County Commissioners and the Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corporation. The award also validates the wisdom in the investment in the expanded runway and establishes the Poconos as a leader in infrastructure investment in our region”, said Airport Authority Chairman, George K. Strunk.

Strunk added “I congratulate the County Commissioners, Economic Development staff and board and most of all my fellow Airport Authority board members for a job well done.” Strunk is hopeful that this success will serve as a model for cooperation among levels of government for improvements in other modes of infrastructure in the Pocono community.

The Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corporation (PMEDC) today announced the debut of a smartphone-ready app of its Website and commercial property database that is the first of its kind in the region.

PMEDC Executive Director Chuck Leonard and Board Chairman Michael Baxter were enthusiastic about the launch.

“After a challenging 2010, it feels terrific to hit the ground running in 2011 with a major initiative to give site selectors improved tools for researching our properties,” says Leonard. “With a strengthening economy and renewed interest in our area’s advantages as an ideal setting for logistics and distribution, this comes along at the perfect time.”

Developed by Michael Beckenbach and Associates (MB&A) via a PP&L Blue Ribbon grant, the app combines and reconfigures two sites: PMEDC.com and the former PASites.com, the expansive Pocono Mountains commercial and office property database developed in collaboration with Monroe County’s ad-hoc economic development marketing committee.

“Rather than a browser screen that requires resizing, smartphone users will discover convenient menus and views that are optimized for iPhone, Android, Blackberry and other smartphone screens,” says Michael Beckenbach, owner and chief strategist for MB&A.

“The new combined mobile site gives users fingertip access to comprehensive information about commercial, industrial, and office properties available in the Pocono Mountains region, as well as regional information, and data that complies with International Economic Development Council standards.”

“We are excited to be the first developer in the area to use this technology in support of a local business.”

Baxter believes that the new app will have an immediate impact on how PMEDC interacts with the site selection community.

“Nearly every broker and agent that I see or meet with carries a smartphone,” says Baxter. “It’s convenient to be able to access the Web on those phones, but looking at a standard Web site can be a bit challenging. The mobile.PMEDC.com app makes it very easy to navigate and search the property database.

“Now, when an agent is traveling through our area, there’s no delay in property research. They can drive by a property, pull over, look it up on their smartphone and start the process of qualifying that property for the clients.”

Leonard added, “PMEDC is proud that we are the first economic development corporation in Northeast Pennsylvania to bring this kind of innovation to our customers and stakeholders and we appreciate the financial support of PPLto help make it happen.”

Smartphone users can simply visit the PMEDC.com with their mobile device. The site will auto detect the device and deliver the appropriate content. As an added bonus, most mobile users will be able to set up an icon on their mobile device for easier access.

PMEDC and its affiliated organizations, Pocono Mountains Industries, Monroe County Industrial Development Authority and Pocono Mountains Industrial Park Authority, are pleased to announce that Michael J. Baxter of Michael Baxter and Associates Commercial Real Estate in Stroudsburg has been elected Board Chairman.

“I am honored that this board has the confidence in my leadership to choose me for this position. I am looking forward to an exciting 2011 and truly believe we have many opportunities to grow and expand business here in Monroe County,” commented Baxter.

The board and staff also wish to recognize the many years of service to the community by outgoing Chairman, Chuck Hannig of Spread Eagle Development Corporation and outgoing Board member, Karl Weiler of Weiler Corporation.

“Under their leadership, we have seen multiple business park developments and many job-creating projects come to fruition. They have been instrumental in seeing that the goals set forth in the Economic Development section of the Monroe 2020 Comprehensive Plan have been followed and implemented,” stated Chuck Leonard, Executive Director of PMEDC.

Vigon International of East Stroudsburg has been named as one of the Best Places to Work in PA for 2010. The awards program, created in 2000, is one of the first statewide programs of its kind in the country. The program is a public/private partnership between Team Pennsylvania Foundation, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and the Central Penn Business Journal.

This survey and awards program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places to be employed in Pennsylvania, benefiting the state’s economy, its workforce and businesses.

Companies from across the state participated in a two-part process to determine the 100 Best Places to Work in PA. The first part of this process was evaluating each nominated company’s workplace policies, practices, philosophies, systems and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part of the process was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking.

PMEDC is very proud to have Vigon included in this elite group of companies and we are proud to have them in our community. Steve Somers, President, commented “This is one of the greatest moments for me not just at Vigon but in my life as it has been a dream for me to build a company with a team that feels empowered, that they can make a difference coming to work every day, to create an environment where the team members really care about their job and in turn feel rewarded for the contributions they have made and to provide a level of benefits that are considered among the best and appreciated by the team. The recognition that we are one of the best places to work in the entire state of Pennsylvania is a tribute to the team.”

The latest phase of development of the Monadnock Non-Wovens LLC (MNW) in Mount Pocono is completed and was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday, October 13, 2010. The 7,500 square feet of new space will improve packaging, warehousing and shipping activities and completes a three-year facility expansion which has more than doubled output, increased production space by 50% and added 45 new jobs. The extra space allows the main building to be dedicated to production and quality control with space to install two more production machines in the future.

MNW manufactures polypropylene roll goods for use in surgical masks, liquid and air filters, vacuum bags, oil absorption technology and consumer products. “We have seen an unprecedented increase in demand for our products over the last five years,” says Managing Director Keith Hayward. “Even during the recessionary year of 2009, we saw growth that required us to continue investing in improved and larger production machinery.”

A five-year plan to improve efficiency, maintain quality and more than double output was initiated in 2007 when MNW became ISO9001 certified, which is am international standard that provides the framework for Quality Management Systems as well as significantly expanded export business opportunities. New production machinery to increase capacity and the necessary infrastructure improvements, such as adding a rail spur and resin conveying system, were the heart of the expansion. Investment in two more melt blown production machines and significant upgrades to the existing melt blown machines required phase expansion of the facility.

With this expansion, MNW is well positioned to satisft the demands of a variety of expanding melt blown markets.

Monadnock Non-Wovens, a subsidiary of Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc. of Bennington, New Hampshire, was established in 1999 to manufacture non-woven material for the fast-growing filtration, medical face mask, healthcare and homeland security markets.