STERLING TOWNSHIP -- After years of trying to attract companies to a business park in Wayne County, a fire truck manufacturer is finally moving in.
The company is relocating from upstate New York, saying it needs more room and to be closer to Scranton to entertain customers.
Sutphen is a big name in the world of firefighting. The company's division near Bethel, New York has made tankers and pumpers that ship around the world.
Now the company has decided to be the first full-time tenant of the Sterling Business and Technology Park outside Hamlin.
Employees at Sutphen East are always busy filling new orders for fire tankers and pumpers. The company has been in Sullivan County, New York since 1989 but has outgrown its location and is moving to Wayne County by the end of the year.
"Nice that they're coming and the business is moving to grow bigger," said Rich Rollison of Honesdale.
The move to the Hamlin area is convenient for employees who live in Pennsylvania including Rollison. His drive time will drop by 45 minutes one-way. Not only that, but Sutphen will be very close to Interstate 84 as well as Scranton and the Poconos, a big difference from seasonal upstate New York.
"Sometimes when we're dealing with a half million dollar fire truck entertaining these customers is very important," said Sutphen head engineer Steven Dorfman.
Not to mention it will be in a business park that was looking for its first official tenant following nearly a decade and millions of dollars in investments. Sutphen will now move into a building at Sterling Business and Technology Park for a fraction of what it cost to develop it with money from the state.
The new facility for Sutphen is considerably bigger than the company's other facility in White Lake, New York. One of the first fire trucks expected out of the facility is going to the Lake Ariel Fire Company.
"It's right here at our beckoned call. A lot closer, it will save a lot of time from having to go to their other location. They're in the heart of their country here," said Lake Ariel Fire Company President Alex Rae.
Sutphen East plans to move in by the end of the year bringing 40 employees with the hopes to expanding to 60.
There are more than 20 more lots available at the business park and the hope is the fire truck manufacturer will spur more companies to move in.
