Pocono News Section

Big Plans for Riverside Plant

Big Plans for Riverside Plant - Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 5:00PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2008 @ 05:00pm EST
Danville, Montour County-

One of the region's premiere pharmaceutical manufacturing companies is expanding. Cherokee Pharmaceuticals is located in Riverside, just across the river from Danville.

Company officials tell us a brand new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility will be in place here by the end of 2009.

Cherokee President John Elliot said, "From the start of Cherokee Pharmaceuticals, we intended to grow and expand the customer base and develop the capabilities to have a much higher output from the site."

The tax revenue and new jobs expected to come along with the expansion have business owners in the area smiling.

Danville Business Alliance Executive Director Jim Wilson noted, "Having a stable economy and stable major employers here is nothing but beneficial for the population and for the general business climate."

The company's top brass believes their growth can benefit everyone. Cherokee officials say this expansion is a sign of their confidence in this region's economy.

Plant Manager Justin Noll explained, "The expansion is going to increase our capacity to produce active pharmaceutical ingredients here so it's in anticipation of future growth and we are out soliciting work from customers right now to fill that expanded capacity."

The plant first opened in 1950. It was operated by Merck until the beginning of this year.

Officials say the new expansion will make the plant even more competitive than ever before.

Wilson added, "We feel very fortunate to have Cherokee here and we hope that they are partners in this community for a long, long time to come."

Cherokee Pharmaceuticals employs about 400 people in our area. They expect to hire up to 20 more full-time workers once the expansion is complete.