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