The Chamber Announces Land Sale by SLIBCO to PNK Group

The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, through its business development affiliate, Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Business Company (SLIBCO), is pleased to announce the sale of 88.73 acres of prime industrial land in Jessup and Archbald, to PNK Group, with the intent to develop industrial facilities totaling 765,000 square feet.

PNK Group, an investor with expertise in financing, development, engineering, and construction, has identified northeastern Pennsylvania as a strategic location for its latest investment. Recognizing the region’s proximity to major markets and its exceptional labor force, PNK Group seized the opportunity to acquire these parcels of land to implement its industrial development projects.

This transaction highlights the region’s appeal to prominent investors seeking to capitalize on its economic and workforce potential and The Chamber’s commitment to fostering economic growth and attracting investment to the area.

“The acquisition of prime industrial land in Jessup and Archbald marks a significant step forward for our expansion efforts in northeastern Pennsylvania. We are excited to bring our expertise in financing, development, engineering, and construction to this strategic location. This investment underscores our confidence in the region’s economic prospects and our commitment to driving growth and innovation. We look forward to bringing our industrial development projects to fruition and contribute to the continued success of the local economy” shared Mark Stiles from PNK Group.

PNK Group specializes in constructing multipurpose industrial buildings for large-unit blocks, leveraging their expertise to create state-of-the-art facilities that meet the needs of modern industries. With this acquisition, PNK Group aims to enhance the region’s industrial infrastructure while creating opportunities for job growth and economic advancement.

Bob Durkin, president of The Chamber shares, “The PNK Group has a reputation for high quality developments that attract a balance of industry types to their facilities. This perspective fits well into the commitment of the Chamber and SLIBCO to diversify our economy in Lackawanna County and our region.”

The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is committed to facilitating further business development initiatives and fostering partnerships that drive prosperity and innovation in Lackawanna County and Northeastern Pennsylvania.

For more information regarding the sale to PNK Group or on The Chamber’s business development affiliate, SLIBCO, please contact Bruce Reddock, director of business development, at breddock@scrantonchamber.com or (570) 342–7711 ext. 136.

About The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization that works to improve the area’s economic environment and quality of life by offering programs and services which stimulate economic growth, promote business prosperity and nurture educational opportunities. For more information about the Chamber, visit www.scrantonchamber.com.

Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Business Company (SLIBCO)

Scranton-Lackawanna Industrial Business Company (SLIBCO), an affiliate of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, develops multi-tenant buildings and industrial and office parks in northeastern Pennsylvania. SLIBCO also owns and manages two technology incubator facilities to start-up and expand small businesses. For more information, visit www.SLIBCO.com.

The Dime Bank Promotes Stacy Gager

The Dime Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Bochnovich announced the promotion of Stacy Gager to Vice President, Deposit Operations Manager.

Stacy Gager joined The Dime Bank in 2006. During her 18-year career at The Dime Bank, she advanced through the deposit operations department. She began her career as a customer information file clerk and progressed to deposit operations specialist and then to the supervisor of the department. In 2019, Gager was promoted to Assistant Vice President, Deposit Operations Supervisor. With this latest promotion to Vice President, Gager is responsible for managing the deposit operations department.

Stacy Gager is a current board member of the Wayne County Public Library in Honesdale. Throughout her career, Gager has continued her education graduating with several banking diplomas and certificates in her field.

Peter Bochnovich stated, “Please join me in congratulating Stacy on being promoted to Vice President of Deposit Operations. Stacy was a member of the first Emerging Leaders program here at The Dime Bank and is an honors graduate of the Pennsylvania Bankers’ School of Banking. She is known for her intelligence, dedication, and valuable contributions to The Dime Bank’s management team. As she takes on her new role, we are certain that we will see nothing but achievements and positive contributions to the bank in the days ahead.”

America250PA Announces Semiquincentennial Bell at the Hawley Silk Mill

The Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial (America250PA), in partnership with Settlers Hospitality, announced today that it will place a bronze, permanent Semiquincentennial Bell at the Hawley Silk Mill later in the Fall of 2024, in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.

America250PA staff; Settlers Hospitality founders, the Genzlinger family; and special guests, including Congressman Matt Cartwright, Drew Popish from the Office of Governor Josh Shapiro, PA State Senator Lisa Baker, PA State Representative Joseph Adams, and Wayne County Commissioner James Shook, attended the announcement today in celebration of the upcoming bell installation later this year.

“The America250PA Semiquincentennial Bells will lift up the stories of communities that have been untold or not widely known yet shaped the history here in the Commonwealth,” said Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America250PA. “America250PA is so excited to be dedicating its second Semiquincentennial Bell at the Hawley Silk Mill this fall to highlight the remarkable work of the individuals—immigrants, primarily women—who helped forge this great nation during the Industrial Revolution right here in Pennsylvania.”

Justin Genzlinger, CEO/Owner of Settlers Hospitality—the presenting sponsor of the Semiquincentennial Bell—shared his thoughts on the importance of the bell: “The Semiquincentennial Bell at the site of the Hawley Silk Mill will herald the story of immigrant labor that helped fuel the Industrial Revolution,” he said. “We’re proud to honor their place in history and preserve that legacy for their descendants who continue to call this community home. We look forward to this becoming another important destination along Pennsylvania’s Route 6 that will enrich the cultural experience for residents and visitors to the Pocono Mountains Lake Region.”

The Semiquincentennial Bell will include an inscription reading, “In the fabric of the 19th century, immigrant women and children were essential threads to the industrial economy as they worked in silk mills and factories like this one. Their descendants remain here.”

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Hawley Silk Mill, located in the scenic Pocono Mountains, has been a vital part of the region since 1880. Originally known as the Bellemonte Silk Mill, this beautiful landmark is still preserved today through the generous support of The Settlers Hospitality Group and includes two additional properties, the Cocoon Coffeehouse and Bakery, originally constructed for silk storage, and the J.S. O’Connor American Rich Cut Glassware Factory (now Ledges Hotel), a technological marvel of its time as one of the first in the nation to be powered by water and lit by electricity generated from its own electrical plant. Both are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Hawley Silk Mill is architecturally as impressive today as it was in 1880, constructed by hand with primarily immigrant labor in the High Victorian Gothic style, and believed to be the largest Bluestone building in the world. It also remains a symbol of the entrepreneurial spirit, grit and determination of the early settlers and immigrants, primarily young women, whose hard work ushered in the Industrial Revolution. This region is well known as the beginning of the labor movement, which included championing safer working conditions, child labor laws, and mandatory public education. The young female immigrants employed at the Hawley Silk Mill played a significant role in shaping the workplace safety and benefits that we all enjoy today.

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson will design the Semiquincentennial Bell site at the Hawley Silk Mill campus. The Wilkes-Barre, PA, based firm was the architect for the Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia and designed the plan to repurpose the Hawley Silk Mill into the vibrant lifestyle center that it is today.

For more information about America250PA and the Semiquincentennial Bell project, visit: https://america250pa.org/.

For more information about the Settlers Hospitality, visit: https://settlershospitality.com/.

For more information about the Hawley Silk Mill, visit: https://hawleysilkmill.com/.

Alumnus and Trustee to Chair Marywood’s Community Leadership Celebration

Michael E. Bugno, a Marywood University alumnus and trustee, will chair Marywood University’s 11th Annual Community Leadership Celebration on Thursday, May 2, 2024, 5:30 p.m., at the Center for Athletics and Wellness on the University’s campus. The event will honor community leader and Marywood alumna Mary Ellen McDonough, with a special spotlight on retiring Marywood president, Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D.

Mr. Bugno, formerly of Clarks Summit, is an accomplished experiential marketing and strategic global events leader, with more than 20 years of planning and executing successful corporate trade shows and events for mid-sized and Fortune 150 companies. Presently, he is the Vice President, Enterprise Experiential Marketing, at Fiserv, based in New York, N.Y.

Prior to Fiserv, Mr. Bugno held a number of leadership positions at Lectra, Food Network, and Comedy Central. He began his career at Walt Disney World, where he was involved in College & International Marketing and Recruiting. Mr. Bugno graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in theatre arts administration in 1998, and he has had a longstanding relationship with the university ever since. He received the Marywood Alumni Association Recent Graduate Award in 2004 and served as a Marywood University trustee from 2006-2015. In 2019, he again joined Marywood’s Board of Trustees. Mr. Bugno has co-chaired and/or worked on sponsorships for the Annual Community Leadership Celebration (CLC) since its inception in 2014.

The CLC is Marywood’s signature fundraiser, providing special support to Marywood students and honoring individuals in the community who exemplify Marywood’s core values in leadership and service to others. Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit campus improvements as part of the EMPOWER Campaign.

To join Marywood University in honoring Mary Ellen McDonough and in recognizing Sister Mary Persico, IHM, at the 11th Annual Community Leadership Celebration on May 2, please visit marywood.edu/clc for ticket and sponsorship information, or call (570) 348-6238.

SBA Declares Disaster Recovery Assistance for Severe Storms and Flooding in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania businesses and residents affected by severe storms and flooding on Sept. 9, 2023 are eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman announced today.

Administrator Guzman made the loans available in response to a letter from Governor Josh Shapiro on Jan. 23, 2024, requesting a disaster declaration by the SBA. Businesses and residents in the declared area can now apply for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA. The declaration covers Lackawanna County and the adjacent counties of Luzerne, Monroe, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming in Pennsylvania.

“The SBA is strongly committed to providing the people of Pennsylvania with the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters with federal disaster loans,” said Guzman. “Getting businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”

To assist businesses and residents affected by the disaster, the SBA will open a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC), in Lackawanna County, at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30.

Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County Center for Public Safety
30 Valley View Drive
Jessup, PA 18434

Opening: Tuesday, Jan. 30, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed: Sundays
Permanently Closes: Thursday, Feb. 15 at 4 p.m.

Customer Service Representatives will be available at the Center to answer questions about the disaster loan program and help individuals complete their applications.

“Businesses and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets,” said SBA’s Philadelphia District Director Stephen R. Dixel.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

Loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future damage.

Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 2.375% for nonprofit organizations, and 2.5% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and monthly payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the initial disbursement. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is March 25, 2024. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Oct. 25, 2024.

For a fact sheet about the program click here.

WBRE/WYOU Produce Super Bowl Commercial

WBRE and WYOU produced a 30-second commercial promoting the 28/22 News Team and their Home Field Advantage. The commercial aired last night in Super Bowl LVIII on WYOU 22. 

LINK TO COMMERCIAL: https://www.pahomepage.com/news/28-22-news-homefield-advantage-makes-big-game-debut/

The WBRE 28 and WYOU 22 news team has the most locally born and raised journalists. This gives our team and therefore our viewers the Home Field Advantage in Northeast Pennsylvania. The commercial takes its inspiration from the Notre Dame football classic film, Rudy.

“I love the commercial and I especially love how the team came together to brainstorm and produce this spot. The excitement can be felt throughout the whole building.” Said Andrew Wyatt WBRE’s Vice President and General Manager.

This commercial is the 7th in the award-winning series. It was announced on Friday, February 9, 2024 that the series has been recognized by the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters for Outstanding Television Station Marketing. 

The Home Field Advantage commercial aired Sunday night during Super Bowl LVIII on WYOU 22.