Penn's Northeast is proud to welcome the Columbia County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) as a new member, expanding the organization's regional footprint to include five counties - Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Wayne and now Columbia County. Penn's Northeast will promote Columbia County's assets when marking the region as a premier business location in an effort to attract new business and industry to Northeast Pennsylvania.
According to Penny Cannella, President of Penn's Northeast, “We are thrilled to welcome the Columbia County IDA to Penn's Northeast and serve their area. Their economic and community assets, location and desire for growth are a great complement and extend the Penn's Northeast footprint west on the I-80 corridor.”
Penn's Northeast will include Columbia County in its various marketing initiatives which include:
- Penn's Northeast attendance at various trade shows and conferences, representing the region and targeting new prospects.
- An aggressive real estate marketing campaign that includes:
- Continually updating an online real estate database featuring over 800 available buildings and sites.
- The production and distribution of a regional business park map.
- An ongoing, monthly e-mail marketing campaign promoting featured properties in the region.
- Various online and nontraditional advertisements in national real estate publications.
- Coordination of the business outreach component of the Northeast PA Regional Bioscience Initiative (NEPA RBI) to increase career and business opportunities within the life science sector.
- Hosting various special events that bring prospects to northeast Pennsylvania, showing the many amenities the region has to offer.
According to Steve Phillips, Columbia County IDA's representative “Joining Penn's Northeast provides additional marketing opportunities for the organization. We are confident that being included in Penn's Northeast's high-impact initiatives will definitely present the authority with opportunities that were not available before.”
The Columbia County IDA is a public economic development organization comprised of seven directors who are appointed by the Board of Columbia County Commissioners.
Penn's Northeast's mission is to serve as the regional business and economic marketing organization that attracts business investments and jobs by actively promoting the geographic and demographic advantages of northeastern Pennsylvania.
