Economic development officials in Scranton are working to lure biotechnology companies into northeastern Pennsylvania, and they're building a new business incubator to aid in that task.
The building and development arm of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce expects construction on the incubator to start in May. It will be located in Jessup, about 10 minutes northeast of Scranton. The 43,000-square foot facility should be finished by the first few months of 2013, says Andy Skrip, VP at the chamber. The incubator will have office space for 10 emerging companies, plus another 30,000 square foot for at least one additional anchor tenant.
Skrip says the incubator in Jessup is meant to capitalize on the success of an existing business incubator inside the Scranton Enterprise Center in the city's downtown. Plus, the city is home to The Commonwealth Medical College, which opened in 2009. “We have the newest medical college in the United States,” Skrip says.
The medical school, along with a study the chamber is conducting on the Scranton area's potential for biotechnology businesses, point to a promising future for this sector in the region. Skrip notes that most companies that are coming to the chamber with an interest in moving to area are connected with health care.
Source: Andy Skrip, Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce
Writer: Rebecca VanderMeulen