(December, 2008) With the economy struggling, most companies are trying to operate conservatively, spending less money and taking very few risks.  Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, however, is a company that is bucking that trend—showing a willingness to take risks to help Northeast Pennsylvania prosper.

With the economy struggling, most companies are trying to operate conservatively, spending less money and taking very few risks.  Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, however, is a company that is bucking that trend—showing a willingness to take risks to help Northeast Pennsylvania prosper.

Considered to be the largest privately-owned developer of industrial real estate along Pennsylvania's I-81 Corridor, Mericle is constructing 11 buildings on speculation, including eight in CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park East. The 11 buildings total 1.8 million square feet and have the potential to house more than 1,000 new jobs. 

When construction on the eight spec buildings at CenterPoint East is finished, there will be 16 buildings in the park totaling more than 4.6 million square feet. The 16 new facilities will all have been constructed since early in 2006. Mericle already owns and manages 11.6 million square feet company-wide, which it leases to 130 tenants.  

In addition to the activity in CenterPoint, Mericle is constructing two speculative office buildings in the East Mountain Corporate Center in Wilkes-Barre and has just completed a 410,000 square foot bulk industrial facility in Humboldt Industrial Park North near Hazleton.

Mericle built CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park, which is generally believed to be the fastest-growing business park in Pennsylvania, with infrastructure grant assistance from Governor Ed Rendell and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, State Senators Ray Musto and Robert Mellow, and State Representatives Mike Carroll and Jim Wansacz, played key roles in helping Mericle secure the state grants.

The Luzerne County Commissioners, the Pittston Area School Board and the Jenkins and Pittston Township Supervisors helped spur quick success by approving a 10-year, 100% property tax abatement on improvements (LERTA) for all new construction in the park.

To view a six-minute movie about CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park, visit mericle.com/CenterPointTheMovie today.