Pennsylvania has possessed a reputation as a prime location for companies in the manufacturing industry for decades. This was most evident when the Commonwealth ranked in the top 10 in several categories in two national polls of the top manufacturing states and locations. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC) followed up these national rankings with a regional analysis of the manufacturing industry that shows the current and future benefits for companies located in the region.

In Business Facilities’ 2016 Annual Rankings Report, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 across five crucial industry categories, including manufacturing, infrastructure and exports. PA placed sixth in the “Top Manufacturing States” category, which measures employment totals for manufacturing jobs; fifth in the “Infrastructure Upgrades” category and 10th in the “Exports” category.

With technological advances in the manufacturing industry growing at an exponential rate, it’s more important than ever for employers to have access to multiple educational and training options that will provide the qualified and skilled workforce base they need to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Several colleges and universities within minutes of Greater Hazleton offer educational and customized training programs that are ideal for current and future employees. In addition to on-site employee training programs, educational courses are available at several colleges across Northeastern PA. The list includes four of Penn State University’s branch campuses, Luzerne County Community College, McCann School of Business and Technology, Johnson College, Keystone College, Lehigh Carbon Community College and Lackawanna College.

Packaging Wholesalers ribbon cutting 1The Packaging Wholesalers, a wholesale retailer of packaging supply chain materials to distributors, held a grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting in February at 63 Green Mountain Road in the Humboldt Industrial Park.

The company’s 300,000 square foot distribution center will house more than 1,200 different sizes of corrugated boxes and mailers along with a variety of additional packaging materials and shipping supplies, including boxes manufactured by neighboring industry, International Paper.