SHAMOKIN DAM — Snyder County’s power retail center Monroe Marketplace will increase the amount of jobs in the county’s retail sector by more than a third.
Though economic development consultant Emily White, of Front Street Advisors, Harrisburg, admitted before a meeting of the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce on Thursday that retail jobs typically pay less than manufacturing jobs, she said the influx is a positive for the region nonetheless.
According to the 2002 census, nearly 3,000 retail jobs exist in Snyder County. Monroe Marketplace will bring another 240 full-time jobs and 1,100 part-time jobs, White said.
“It opens up the opportunity for folks to have additional jobs,” White said of the part-time positions.
In addition to the jobs brought by Monroe Marketplace, White estimated the shopping center will pump $16 million in new wages into the region and $26 million in sales tax to the state over the next four years, as well as increased property taxes to Snyder County, the Selinsgrove Area School District and Monroe Township.
As quality of life becomes more important when companies look to locate in a region, White said shopping opportunities like what Monroe Marketplace will offer could spark future development.
The 700,000-square-foot shopping center will contain a Target store, Giant Food Store, Red Robin, Kohl’s, Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Dress Barn and Lane Bryant.
The impetus is now on organizations like the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Susquehanna Industrial Development Corp., White said, to balance the county’s retail sector with jobs in the manufacturing and technology sectors.
“We are still committed to attracting high-paying manufacturing jobs, and that commitment won’t change,” said David Hall, president and chief executive officer of the chamber and executive director of SIDCO. “You don’t quit working in one sector when you have success in another.”
Those efforts continue at the Pawling Station Business Park, on 48 acres along Route 522 in Penn Township, Snyder County, which should be ready for construction at the end of the month.
The five-parcel park is expected to bring 250 to 500 jobs to the region.
Monroe Marketplace developer PREIT is in the process of making highway improvements to Routes 11-15 at the entrance to the shopping center.
White said the company is seeking an $8.7 million grant from Gov. Edward G. Rendell’s infrastructure and facilities improvement program to cover highway improvements, including a future access road east of Routes 11-15.
The entire Monroe Marketplace price tag stands at $65 million, White said.
Front Street Advisors does consulting work in economic development. The company was hired by PREIT to assist in applying for state funding.
News
Power retail center
Monroe Marketplace: 240 full-time jobs
- News
-
-
Storms pound region
A series of thunderstorms prompted flash-flood warnings across the Susquehanna Valley Sunday night.
-
Drizzle doesn't stop Mazeppa parade, service
MAZEPPA — Small-town American spirit was on display in Mazeppa at the community’s annual Memorial Day parade on Sunday.
-
Lions raffling premium tickets
Two lucky people will win Philadelphia Phillies Diamond Club seats for a September game.
-
Dial 211 matches callers, agencies
SELINSGROVE — The Union-Snyder Community Action Agency is preparing to launch Dial 211 in July, but if you call it now, it works.
-
Pastor: Some twist Scriptures for own ends
During the 2012 United Methodist Church General Conference held in Tampa, Fla., earlier this month, church leaders chose to maintain the wording in their Book of Discipline, voting down motions that would have approved same-sex marriages and the ordination of homosexual ministers.
-
Burgers, people sizzle
SUNBURY -- Under clear skies Saturday, the temperature felt like 100 degrees, more like the Fourth of July than the Memorial Day weekend, according to a meteorologist who said the sticky, stifling conditions will persist for several days.
-
It pays to monitor accounts
Several people responded to the scam alert story which appeared last Sunday in The Daily Item to say they too have been recent victims of scams involving the theft of their identities and bank card information.
-
Teens go for baroque
A sonata plays from a Mac book in the music room at Lewisburg Area High School. It’s a baroque-style composition with flavors of Beethoven’s First symphony. Senior Sean Swartz, 18, hums along and does a little conducting with a pen as the music plays.
-
'To Do': Concert
WEST MILTON - Buffalo Valley Singers presents a concert at 7:30 p.m. May 27 at Central Oak Heights, 75 Heritage Road.
-
Firefighter union may char pacts
LEWISBURG — Paid members of the William Cameron Engine Company have voted to unionize under the International Association of Fire Fighters, a move believed to stem from internal tension between paid and volunteer members of the department, according to various sources.
-
M-W rule on drug testing is area’s boldest
MIDDLEBURG — Midd-West is the only school district in the Central Susquehanna Valley that requires students interested in participating in extra-curricular activities to agree to submit to random drug testing.
-
New shelter exec gets busy
When Cathy Teisher stepped down as executive director of Haven Ministries, in March, Pamela Steffen stepped up.
- More News Headlines
-
Storms pound region



