By Francis Scarcella
SELINSGROVE — A Bloomsburg company’s plan to create emergency housing units could bring 60 jobs to a vacant borough warehouse.
Lake Forest Technologies, with the Bucknell University Small Business Development Center, announced Tuesday that production could begin in a South High Street facility as soon as orders are placed.
Each unit — which would house a family of four and can be assembled with minor tools — would cost $8,000 for buyers, said James Ducay, president and chief executive officer of Lake Forest Technologies.
A single order for 100 units would create 30 jobs immediately, while an order of 1,000 or more would double the jobs, said Kelly O’Brien Gavin, from the Keystone Innovation Zone.
Steve Strumbris, assistant director for the Bucknell Small Business Development Center, said he is proud of the possibility of bringing jobs to Selinsgrove.
“We are so pleased with everything so far because our department was in on this from the start helping with designs,” Strumbris said, adding, “This will have a big impact on the area.”
Housing units are made of recycled plastic, homasote (recycled fiber) and expanded foam.
“These units are easily put together and honestly need minor tools,” Strumbris said. “It is a very exciting new product.”
The units are ready to be manufactured.
“These things are ready to go, and we are looking forward to manufacturing and bringing jobs to the area,” Ducay said.
Gavin said she is excited about housing made form plastic, fiber and foam.
“Where there is a disaster,” she said, “we will have a temporary solution.”
The prototype was on display Tuesday at 600 S. High St., which could be the new warehouse and home for Lake Forest Technologies.
“We are looking forward to having them move in and start building the units,” said warehouse owner Robert Grayston, of West Chester. “This would be a really good thing for the area.”
Maria Culp, president and chief executive officer of the Central Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce, based in Milton, said she was impressed that the units can be easily assembled.
“I love the fact you don’t need to use a lot of tools,” Culp said. “This is such an insightful innovative idea for natural disasters.”
The emergency units also can be used as temporary offices, sheds and storage facilities.
Emergency housing units can be efficiently stored and quickly transported to a region in distress, and units can be disassembled and reused multiple times with no waste.
For information, call Lake Forest Technologies at (609) 356-4990.
