SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti introduced Tuesday which space enterprise would obtain the primary Wage Enhance Grant (WPG) by means of the Metropolis’s $68.7 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.
A second-generation lampshade manufacturing facility within the Electrical Metropolis referred to as Penn Shadecrafters, at 941 Sanderson Avenue, will get the primary funding enhance courtesy of the ARPA. Penn Shadecrafters opened in 1974 and is without doubt one of the final lampshade producers within the nation. The manufacturing facility closed in 2020 when the pandemic struck.
When the enterprise lastly reopened, it was hit laborious by inflation. So, they utilized for the Wage Enhance Grant earlier than the first-round deadline on November 14 and the $50,000 they’ve been awarded will assist Penn Shadecrafters proceed their work in Scranton.
“We’re doing all we are able to to adapt. We’re doing all we are able to to maintain our prices down, and with the payroll enhance program that can assist as nicely, my prices as nicely, so we’re very very grateful to the Metropolis of Scranton and Mayor Cognetti, and the Scranton Space Basis to assist us keep in enterprise right here within the metropolis,” mentioned Steve Carter, Proprietor of Penn Shadecrafters.
Watch: Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti’s go to Penn Shadecrafters under.
Scranton’s Wage Enhance grant estimates state averages per business and place based mostly on the North American Trade Classification System (NAICS). This system is predicted to assist Penn Shadecrafters pay staff a minimal of $2 extra per hour, including at the least $4,000 to particular person salaries.
“Our ARPA Wage Enhance program helps shut Scranton’s hole between present wages and our dwelling wage. Offering assist by means of this federal funding supply makes it simpler for employees to remain in jobs they love right here within the Metropolis and for companies to maintain their doorways open. Increased working wages assist us all,” said Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti.
Carter says his gross sales are nonetheless 30% decrease than what they have been earlier than the pandemic however this can assist tremendously in retaining his manufacturing facility doorways open.
