A multi-million dollar facility that was shot down in part of Lycoming County has found a home in neighboring Clinton County.
Last year Baker Hughes proposed building the large facility near the Lycoming Mall in Muncy Township.
Officials said it did not fit in with the existing community, however officials in Clinton County were excited to see the plant being built there and said it is a great fit.
Construction crews said they are right on schedule to finish a new operation facility near Lock Haven. It will be the future home of Baker Hughes, a gas field service company based in Texas.
By the end of the year, it will serve as the base of operations for a fleet of trucks that will deliver materials, including ingredients used in the fracking process at natural gas wells within a 100-mile radius.
"This was a home run for the entire community. We're going to have a lot of jobs, construction jobs," said Mike Flanagan of the Clinton County Economic Partnership.
Local leaders got a closer look at what is in store for this business park near the Clinton County Fairgrounds. It is a $40 million investment that has long-time Lamar Township Supervisor Bill Garbrick senior smiling wide.
"It's something you couldn't believe," said Garbrick. "It gives us jobs, new homes, our schools. It's everything to us."
With the new Baker Hughes facility in the vicinity of a very busy intersection in Clinton County, local leaders are hopeful to get enough money in the future to make improvements to the intersection so it is a whole lot more safe for the increased traffic from the new business.
"We look at them as the shopping center anchor, there will be other ones following behind and that's great for the entire area," added Flanagan.
Not only that, but county commissioners said they are confident that this type of project means the natural gas industry is here to stay.
"We're in gas drilling business for the long haul. They're not going to invest $40 million for a short-term investment, doing it because they know it's a service that's needed," said Commissioner Pete Smeltz.
Developers said the Baker Hughes facility is expected to bring up to 250 jobs to Clinton County.
It will include an office building and warehouses containing fuel, acids, and cement.
