The Scranton Plan Hits Campaign Goal
The Scranton Plan, the industrial marketing arm of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, met and exceeded their 2011-2015 funding campaign goal. Campaign co-chairs Karen Clifford and Matthew Haggerty announced today that $1.44 million was raised by community leaders and volunteers to fund The Scranton Plan’s award-winning economic development programs through 2015.
Mr. Haggerty provided an overview of what the campaign funds would be used for over the next five years. The Scranton Plan intends to complete 65 projects, creating 7,500 jobs for an investment of $250 million in tax rebates for Lackawanna County. From 2011-2015, The Scranton Plan will focus on key industry sectors including science, technology, engineering and math. Mr. Haggerty also announced plans to partner with regional economic developers to execute a regional bioscience strategic plan.
“Key volunteers in the community pitched in to make this campaign a success. The dollars raised will build upon our prior successes and will support The Scranton Plan’s efforts to grow our region,” commented Mr. Haggerty.
Additional goals include facilitating local growth by conducting Pennsylvania Business Retention and Expansion company interviews, intensively marketing the advantages of our Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zones and expanding the reach and impact of Rediscover Scranton partnerships.
With $1.31 million pledged by the business community during the 2005 campaign, The Scranton Plan completed 52 economic development projects that resulted in the creation and retention of 6,950 jobs and more than $443 million in real estate investment. Key projects include McLane Company, Two Chefs on a Roll, Sears Logistics, Diapers.com, SRA International, VersaCold Logistics, the completion of Mount Pleasant Corporate Center and construction of Valley View Business Park Phase II.
Additionally, key accomplishments of the last five years have included, the launch of the Rediscover Scranton marketing campaign in 2006, the development of Career Academy, the completion of 425 business interviews through the Pennsylvania Business Retention and Expansion Program and was named a Top Ten Economic Development Group by Site Selection magazine and a Top 3 Economic Development program by the Economic Development Administration.
Since the program’s inception, The Scranton Plan has worked with Lackawanna Industrial Fund Enterprise (LIFE) and the Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Building Company (SLIBCO) to develop 12 industrial, office and technology parks and complete 357 projects for a total real estate investment of $637 million. The Scranton Plan has assisted a total of 234 companies with site selection and relocation in northeast Pennsylvania.
“It is good business sense to be involved with The Scranton Plan, especially when you look at its history and success stories. The truth is, someone believed in our region, in our area, and saw great potential when The Scranton Plan was created,” stated Ms. Clifford. “Businesses small and large should embrace this arm of the Chamber. Its chief mission is to sell our community to potential new businesses, and The Scranton Plan will help continue to grow our region's economy.”
For more information about The Scranton Plan contact Amy Luyster, Scranton Plan administrator, at (570) 342-7711 or at aluyster@scrantonchamber.com.
