SCRANTON -- A home builder in Scranton is getting a shot in the arm from the state to improve the way it does business, and the company also plans to create new jobs as a result.
The welcome mat was rolled out for Governor Tom Wolf at Simplex Homes in Scranton's west side. Mechanical problems prevented the governor from flying in, but $100,000 in state money is still committed to help the modular home builder upgrade its operations.
"We're going to be able to develop 3D architectural drawings, something that's not standard in our industry," said owner Pat Fricchione.
Fricchione's family-run business has survived the great recession and is now investing several million dollars to position itself for the future, all the way from the design phase to construction of their modular homes.
"We're redesigning and re-engineering the production lines. The grant will be used for both developing software."
By developing 3D renderings of modular homes at Simplex, instead of 2D renderings, their workers will have a much better ability to see inside the home before building it to see where they may be problems within the plumbing or the heating.
"(This will) allow them to guarantee there's an immediate order of the materials they need, speced the way they need it," said State Senator John Blake, (D)Lackawanna County.
In all, Simplex Homes expects 40 new jobs at more than $35,000 a year to come from upgrading its design technology. That is expected to take the next few years.
"Could range from engineering to professional jobs such as sales, actual production line, carpenters, plumbers electricians," Fricchione explained.
Nearly $100, 000 more in state money will be used to help train employees at Simplex on the new technology.
