HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 4 - With the cut of a
ribbon today, Governor Edward G. Rendell helped to save some 400 jobs in
Northumberland County and mark the acquisition of a pharmaceutical
manufacturing plant by a Philadelphia-based, minority-owned company.
PRWT Services Inc. took over the operation of the Merck & Co. Inc.’s
Cherokee Plant in Riverside, near Danville, on Jan. 1. The facility will be
known as Cherokee Pharmaceuticals.
“We’re looking for big things from PRWT,” Governor Rendell said. “We’ll
be keeping an eye on this venture, because our manufacturing base is vital
to our economy and pharmaceuticals, specifically, is an important sector.”
Merck announced in 2005 that it would seek to sell the plant as part of
a restructuring of its worldwide operations. The company said at the time
it would do all it could to find a buyer that would maintain operations.
The plant is one of the largest employers in Northumberland County.
PRWT will capitalize on the infrastructure and workforce already at the
plant. It is essentially taking over the Merck plant as a turnkey operation
- thus saving approximately 400 jobs. The company said it intends to make
considerable capital investments in the Cherokee plant to support the
growth of the business and increase the number of jobs.
The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public
education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing
economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out
more about Governor Rendell’s initiatives and to sign up for his weekly
newsletter, visit http://www.governor.state.pa.us.
CONTACT:
Teresa Candori
717-783-1116
Steve Weitzman (DCED)
717-783-1132
SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor