Pocono News Section

$4 Million Plant, Jobs On Way To Forest City

$4 Million Plant, Jobs On Way To Forest City - Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 7:23PM EST

$4 Million Plant, Jobs On Way To Forest City Reported by: Joe Holden
Monday, Mar 3, 2008 @11:24pm EST

FOREST CITY, SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY- An empty field marks the spot of a planned electronics firm that's expected to bring more than 200 jobs to the area.

The announcement was made to WBRE News Monday night, ahead of a planned formal event to discuss the particular details on Wednesday.

Monday, the spot is nine acres of nothing. That will soon change.

"This is probably the best economic news Forest City area has had in 20 years," John Kameen, treasurer for the Greater Forest City Industries, said. A $4 million plant will rise up in an industrial park that's a mere stone's-throw away from the center of town.

"We'll be putting up a 47,000 square foot plant in the Vision 2000 Industrial Park here that will be manufacturing electronic circuit boards," Kameen said.

We're told parent company JEC Technologies liked the rural setting and tax breaks offered by the state through a Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ). Members of Greater Forest City Industries call the development "huge."

"We finally arrived at a point where we're going to put a roof in this place and create jobs. That's what it's all about. You got to create jobs for the community, stimulate the economy and that's it. It's good thing for this area," Bob McGraw, president of Greater Forest City Industries, said.

The tract of land is "shovel ready." The developer must drive footings into the ground. Utilities are ready to go. The idea has been in the works for 15 years. The workforce will initially start at 60 and eventually balloon to 260 five years from now.