MOOSIC -- Economic officials said Lackawanna County is becoming an attractive spot for companies in the health care industry. Proving their point, another health care company has announced it will hire an additional 150 workers.
That company is TMS Health, it is owned by Xerox, and is a call center for major health care providers. TMS Health has had an office on Montage Mountain since 2010.
Officials with the company announced that they will be adding 150 new jobs, something economic officials locally said is part of a trend.
Officials with TMS Health haven't said exactly when, but soon, the office on Montage Mountain in Moosic will make room for the new employees.
The call center's been there since 2010 and currently has 75 employees.
Borough officials said Montage Mountain is an attractive place for growing businesses.
Moosic Council President, Joe Mercatili, said 150 more jobs will have a big impact on the borough. Not just in tax revenue, but Mercatili thinks those new employees may look to live in Moosic, too. He hopes the new employees don't just bring business, but also buy houses.
"All they have to do is check our tax base, our school district taxes, and we make it easy for them to pick Moosic," said Mercatili.
Officials with The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce said TMS Health is the third health care company to bring jobs to Lackawanna County this year. So, it's just another sign of a growing biosciences industry in northeastern Pennsylvania.
"The Commonwealth Medical College certainly has brought a lot of interest to the area," said Amy Luyster of The Chamber.
Luyster knows a thing or two about this new industry. She's part of a group called "The Scranton Plan" that markets Lackawanna County to biosciences and health care companies.
Luyster said the TMS Health expansion proves the plan is working.
"The colleges and universities in the region provide an excellent resource to bring out a trained work force. Plus, our location, proximity to markets," added Luyster.
Officials with TMS Health weren't able to give us too many details on the 150 new jobs, like how much they will pay, but people interested in applying can visit the company's website, www.tmshealth.com.