Pocono News Section

Tootsie Roll Finds Luzerne County Home

Tootsie Roll Finds Luzerne County Home - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 4:53PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 04:53pm EST

HAZLE TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY -- It's any sweet tooth's dream -- four football fields worth of candy. The Tootsie Roll Industries' newest distribution center is officially open in the Humboldt Industrial Park.

"The economy hasn't been healthy for quite some time, and when you have a company such as Tootsie Roll that wants to come here, that's big," said Luzerne County Commissioner, Stephen Urban.

The company's president says Northeast PA is the perfect regional hub for them.

"We hope it helps the local economy," said Ellen Gordon, President of Tootsie Roll Industries. "We have enjoyed who are already working here and excited to have more people come and work here as we expand our operations."

A handful of people are already working, but they expect to hire as many as 30 in total. The company is also getting a tax break through the Keystone Opportunity Zone program.