The Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Building Company (SLIBCO), the industrial development affiliate of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, was recognized as the Economic Development Large Agency of the Year by the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA).
Recognizing organizations for their demonstration of outstanding accomplishments in economic development, SLIBCO was honored for the implemented work plan of business attraction, sustainment and growth related to the announcement of 22 projects within Lackawanna County for the 2015-2016 fiscal year. The result was the creation and/or retention of 2,140 jobs, 1,100 construction jobs and a total community investment of over $1.25 billion. From the development of the Scranton Enterprise Center and TekRidge Center – which are both focused on business incubation – to the launch of Powered By LACKAWANNA, an online one-stop shop for entrepreneurs, SLIBCO was recognized for its positive economic impact on its community as well as its commitment to innovation.
This is the fourth time SLIBCO has been the recipient of a PEDA Award. In 1994, SLIBCO received the Economic Development Large Agency of the Year Award. In 1998, Andrew Skrip, Vice President of Industrial Development, was awarded Economic Developer of the Year and in 2011, SLIBCO’s development of Valley View Business Park Phase II was named Project of the Year. “Being recognized by PEDA and, most notably, by your industry peers is truly one of the highest honors,” said Bob Durkin, Executive Vice President of SLIBCO and president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. “Our SLIBCO team and board of directors are dedicated professionals who work to ensure our community’s business attraction, sustainment and growth, resulting in the creation of family sustaining jobs for residents and future generations. I couldn’t be more proud of the SLIBCO Team and the work they do to improve the Greater Scranton region.”
On behalf of the PEDA Awards Committee, Chair David Black, president and chief executive officer of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC, congratulated award recipients, thanking them for “their efforts in the Pennsylvania communities they serve. Economic developers are special people with special skill sets and a passion to make the regions they serve better places through investment, job retention and job creation. These awards, conferred by their peers from across the Commonwealth, are an acknowledgment of their special efforts.”
PEDA’s mission is to promote sound economic development policies, provide leading-edge economic development education and nurture an effective statewide economic development network to foster the economic growth of the Commonwealth.
PEDA’s membership is comprised of county and regional economic developers, state government economic development employees, utility and transportation executives, industrial development authority directors, operators of industrial and technology incubators, chamber of commerce executives, municipal directors of community and economic development, engineering and construction executives, economic development finance professionals, commercial and industrial developers, and local, county and state elected officials.
