Funding secured for Pawling Station Business Park, acquisition of Thor plant

The Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce announced two economic development projects last month that together are expected to create between 400 to 600 new jobs in the region.

One of the chamber's economic development affiliates, Susquehanna Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO),

SIDCO intends to develop the park into eight ready-to-build sites, each fully served with public infrastructure, targeted at small and midsized manufacturers. With the help of state Sen. John Gordner and Rep. Russ Fairchild, SIDCO recently secured a $2.4 million grant and low-interest loan package from the Commonwealth Financing Authority to support the development of the park.

SIDCO is now working to finalize development plans for the park and expects to break ground this summer.

Sunbury New Enterprises Expansion Drive Inc. (SNEED), also an affiliate of the chamber, has successfully secured a $1.26 million Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) loan to Custom Building Systems LLC (CBS) of Middleburg. The low-interest loan will be used to defray the cost of the company's acquisition of the former Thor America plant in Middleburg. The modular home manufacturer, which is affiliated with Professional Building Systems, LLC, is investing $5.2 million in the plant and expects to create more than 120 jobs over the next three years. The $1.26 million loan was approved at a meeting of the PIDA board of directors on Feb. 1 in Harrisburg.

"The chamber is pleased to support these two critical economic development projects that will increase our community assets and create job opportunities for valley residents," said Kurt Kissinger, chamber president and chief executive officer Kissinger also serves as executive director of both SIDCO and SNEED Inc.

Over the past seven years, the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce and its economic development affiliates, Susquehanna Industrial Development Corp. and Sunbury New Enterprises Expansion Drive Inc., have facilitated several business expansion and retention projects, providing access to more than $6 million in incentives to retain and/or add more than 1,000 jobs at such firms as Custom Building Systems LLC; United Stone Veneer; Runnerless Knits Inc.; Dinosaw, Inc. Furmano Foods; and Tulpehocken Spring Water, among others.