Published in the Times Leader, by Andrew M. Seder

February 24, 2014

Another week, another major jobs announcement for Luzerne County.

An 11 a.m. news conference has been scheduled for Tuesday at a flex building along Keystone Avenue inside the CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park East. Representatives from the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, the office of Gov. Tom Corbett and Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services will gather to introduce a new park tenant.

Details were not released in advance about the type of company, the number of jobs or the timetable.

The news comes two weeks after Greiner Packaging Corp., a manufacturer of packaging in the food and non-food sectors, announced it will be establishing its U.S. headquarters in the Mericle owned CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park West in Pittston Township. It will bring with it 128 full-time jobs over the next three years. The Austrian-based company said it plans to invest nearly $17 million in manufacturing, computer equipment, furniture and fixtures at the 113,871-square-foot building.

In the past 14 months, numerous companies have announced plans to open in Luzerne County or add jobs to existing workforces. Among them:

• In December, Maximus announced it will be bringing 565 jobs to CenterPoint East, in Jenkins Township.

• In May, American Eagle Outfitters announced plans to invest more than $160 million to construct a new direct-to-consumer distribution center in the Humboldt Industrial Park, Hazle Township. They say this will bring more than 350 jobs with the potential for hundreds more.

• In July, Tech Packaging says it will bring 95 jobs to the Humboldt Industrial Park in Hazle Township.

• In November, Webgistix announced it will open an eCommerce fulfillment center in Hanover Industrial Estates bringing 25 to 35 jobs.

• In January, 2013, Progressive Converting (Pro-Con), announced it would be adding up to 65 jobs to its existing workforce at the Humboldt Industrial Park in Hazle Township.

Any new jobs are positive news for this area, which in December maintained its grip on the state’s highest unemployment rate for the 45th consecutive month. The jobless rate for the tri-county area including Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wyoming was at 8.7 percent, the lowest it’s been since July 2009, when it was 8.6 percent, but still one of only two metro regions in the state with a rate in excess of 7.3 percent.

(Andrew M. Seder, "More jobs coming to Luzerne County," 2/24/14)