Scranton, PA; A nice place to live, work or play

Scranton, PA who has copied the Painted Horsesthings like steel, textiles, mills, mining and energy
from Casper WY to draw in tourism has a fewleave the system and the trade offs beiong
tricks still up their sleeves. For a town with a lotpromoted from the acedemia side include tech,
of old history, it is having some good growth incommunication and environmental, yet the money
newer parts of the city and surrounding areas.flow for such things is not like it is in Boston, TX,
One college age student we had a chance to talkCA and other on the move tech fields such as
to says most college age kids try to figure out athe latest Bio-Tech. Where there maybe schooling
way to make thier place in the world outside offor such, but not a lot of big deals getting done in
their hometown of Scranton, this maybe whyPA.The rural areas of PA are secluded by toll
these kids would good family values choose otherways and the money flow is escaping via
cities to make their way in. Scranton of courseWal-Mart, which accounts for 11% of our nations
known for it's history in coal mining and it'sconsumer spending. The money flows into
closeness to the Pocono Mountains, which are stillWal-Mart, they pay local wages, donate to charity
and East Coast Favorite get away. .Coal mining inand the rest leaves the state, although PA has it's
PA goes way back to the middle of the 1800'sshare of companies which make things for
and it was always dangerous, if you 'google' theWal-Mart and Wal-Mart buys in the USA first, as
mining industry accidents in the state you will seewell it should and Sam always promised, less and
what we mean. The demographics are good inless things are made in the US anymore due to
Scranton, although it has been economicallytoo many regulations and laws about nothing such
challenged as of late. Under-represented withas ADA, OSHA, EPA, etc. Many items are being
minority populations but it is a good market nevermade in China now, or some still in Mexico, less
the less. Of value is the many industrial parks inthan before since Monterrey is dead too. The
the North Eastern Penn area and the good roadmoney flowing out into China is not coming back
situation South of town on I-81, well at least iffast enough, due to Patriot's act slowing money
they ever get done with the project. Scrantoncoming into the country and a crack down on
has a bit of an alcohol and drug situation due tomoney launderers thus the money stays out
probably the work hard play hard cultural historyonce it leaves. It is noteworthy to look at such
there. But all in all if you are not looking for it youissues such as where does the money flow too. I
probably would not notice it. We look at Scrantonam worried for rural America and am upset and
as being a second tier market for our expansionfeel sick to my stomach every time I see a
into PA and a worthy market for many types ofboarded up small business in a rural town. You see
businesses.If you talk with Dan Walshthey slow you down to 25 mph for speed trap
administrator for the Greater Scranton Chamberbut at that speed you see things much deeper
of Commerce (which needs a sign out frontthan the sign, which is gone. You see and feel the
perpendicular to Mulberry Street so you can findtears of the small business person who lost
it), he will tell you about the many new projectseverything, the employees who are sitting at
going up in and around town. Places such as thehome with no air-conditioning turned on, you read
Jessup Small Business Center and Valley Viewthe minds of the income property owner who is
Business Center. But also we found projectsnot getting an ROI on the building he so carefully
nearby in the Covington Township, namely "Thebuilt on his families property which they have
Business Park". Cool name? Simple.The Scrantonowned for generations. Watching the awning rust,
Enterprise Center downtown seems to be anpaint chip and flake, bugs scurry in and out of the
uplifting idea, and there could be some increasedbroken windows. You feel the anguish and sorrow,
foot traffic there. As the new parts of the townthat is all there is, that is what you see and feel
and the box stores are going up in the Bus 6 inas you drive by. So then here is an idea, perhaps
the Dickson City Limits. Everyone is there, ait might lead someone out there to a solution to
regional mall, Home Depo, Wal-Mart, etc. Kind ofthis problem. Here it is; Certain dollars coming into
cutting off the buyers coming from vacationsuch towns of 2000 to 12,000 populations, which
homes in the Poconos. But still it employeesare not within 5 miles of a major highway, be
residents of Scranton and the other metrogiven permission to stamp the dollar bills coming in
adjacent townships.The Southside of town is ripeat a local municipal court up to 15% and those bills
for fleets of trucks and distribution along I-81. Youmust remain in circulation locally for three years
have the Stadium Office Park, Southside Industrialor until they are worn out and traded in at the
area, Glenmaura Corporate Center and Rockybank. Or some such similar situation to keep the
Glen Industrial Park. Below that in Luzerne Countymoney flow going locally. Wal-Mart can then pay
is the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Airport, Vogelbacherthe people locally with those dollars or trade them
Industrial Park, O'Hara Industrial Complex and theagainst purchases from local manufacturers of
Eastern Distribution center which looks like aitems they might sell in their stores. Or Wal-Mart
mini-enterprise zone or mini-FTZ (if it is not, theycould work with a local bank in the area and have
should make one there). Being at the I-84, I-81banking on the property so that those dollars
crossroads and having a 380 and 476 Toll-waycould be redistributed in loans to those who wish
which also serves as a ring road from the Westto start small businesses or homes. thus
of town, it appears to be all set up to doimproving the economic climate all the way
business. Perhaps not as ideal a location as thearound. Wal-Mart wants into the banking business
Bethlehem-Allen Town area (being so close toanyway, they have proved their self worth in the
Philly, but Scranton area has it's advantages anddistribution business, again this is just a thought.
while in recession it is certainly going to be a goodSomething has to be doen about rural America, it
recovery situation since it has a good populationis more evident in the back highways of PA than
base and pro-active approach to the economicanywhere. This is a serious issue and it is not
development.I-80 is just a tad bit to far from thegoing away anytime soon. It needs pro-active
Wilkes-Barre Scranton corridor to be of significantconsideration from the most brilliant economic
value. The best deal for this city would be to dominds, otherwise we will need two sets of
what Tulsa OK needs to do with the toll way tocurrency in our country.PA is seeing overall from
OKC. Ditch it. If the 476 were made a freewaywhat we have seen a change in Eating
instead of a toll way and that area were to openestablishments along major highways, changes in
up then the straight shot to Philadelphia could feedGrocery Stores, and changes in it's supply and
the fire and Scranton would be more easilydistribution chains. PA is the leader in all kinds of
accessible to travelers and distribution companies.stuff, but none of which is breaking any records
The I-84 is a straight shot to CT, 476 straightduring this period. In a study by the Penn State
shot to Philly and Allentown, I-81 is a shortcut toCollege of Ag and Econ, it was reported that 15
I-80 and straight shot to Harrisburg and allowsof the 20 major sectors of the PA economy had
travel around the D.C. metro mess for thosegone down. Today a few things are up, such as
traveling South without the huge mountain rangesrecreational manufacturing, motor homes, boats
of further East, which is good for trucking andand housing. We did see things such as insurance,
distribution.Scranton area business people havereal estate, wholesale trade, distribution and public
bounded together and are hard chargers, they willutilities pick-up in recent years. But if you look at
not give up, but could use some help. The big talkwhat took a hit Lumber, furniture, travel, and
in Scranton now is of course the incubators formanufacturing in rubber, steel, wood, fabrics,
small business and that is very smart and wellmetal, etc. it is a little gloomy. PA has good
received and has the blessings of local banks andeducation and that has weathered the storms.
SBA. The SEC, not to be confused with theBut really besides the bigger cities, things are not
Security Exchange Commission which isdoing extremely well, they are just doing okay.
destroying America's best Corporations withBut today Okay is good enough and the folks in
media headlines and extorsion scare tactics, thisPA are not stooping here. We were fortunate to
SEC is the Scranton Enterprise Center whichtalk with an employee deliverer from Dempsey
appears to be on pace to provide 1000 new jobsUniform Services. He said things were good, and
to the area within five years. The Jessup Parkthat they had had some slow pays, but most of
looks good and when filled up would house about,thier accounts were Corporate and they were
I am guessing 4500 jobs.In Schuylkill County theydoing good. Some companies had gone out of
are building a gasification coal plant which would bebusiness last year, but others were adding
a 400 million dollar project and employ many highemployees, and the sales have added a few
paid professionals and countless constructionmore accounts. Competition had increased, but
people in the building process, that is happeningthey were doing well. We thank him for the
now. Many things are challenging PA's economyinsight and here is the pitch;"So Give Us a Try...We
and the Scranton area. First the state's economyThink You will be impressed" .So this company a
has been shifting from manufacturing and plantsvery good public image company was doing well
to retail and services and many jobs have left theworking with B2B services. We believe that this is
state to NAFTA trading partners and to ofan example of what we would expect with hard
course China, ouch. The regional growth patternswork, over time and doing what you say you are
in my humble opinion are favoring other PA areagoing to do. You see in Scranton, bull crap walks.
better due to the closeness of the MetorplexesIt is about doing what you say you are going to
of Pittsburgh, Cleveland, D.C.. Scranton is favoreddo, and a man is only as good as his word. That
as it is close to NYC and New England areas likeis what they expect there, that is what they are
Boston, Hartford, Manchester, New Jersy andsay in Missouri, Show me. Any company in the
Albany. However there is stiff competition fromservice business willing to prove it, will either make
makers of items in all those states too, especiallyit or beak it on their integrity, and you know
where rural areas are attempting to eak out anwhat? We would not expect anything else from
existence with antique, agriculture, small specializedthe humble coal miner beginnings of a town grown
manufacturing and flee markets.PA has hadinto a city where you must walk the talk.
declining tax revenues since the mid 70's withScranton they will flat do whatever it takes, it is
trade changes and the early 90's with change ofthat kind of a town still.Lance Winslow - Online
focus. If you look at PA as a hole we are seeingThink Tank forum board.