Ribbon-cutting ceremony at Forest Mills Fountain The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Forest Mills Fountain, a restored soda fountain location on Main Street in Forest City. Chamber and community members gathered to celebrate the shop, which serves old-fashioned sugar-cane sodas, ice cream floats, milkshakes and hand-dipped ice cream. It’s located inside Sweet Tooth by Chocolate Creations.
The Scranton Plan hosts annual Summer Festival The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, alongside its business development marketing division, The Scranton Plan, recently hosted its annual Summer Festival at The Country Club of Scranton on July 13th. Summer Festival, sponsored by Lackawanna County, Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, UGI Utilities, Inc., Quandel Construction Group, Inc., Colwell-Naegele Associates, Inc., Leeward Construction, Inc., GPI, KSG Engineers and Mac Sign Systems, welcomed nearly 80 attendees, including real estate professionals, site selectors and consultants. “Summer Festival allows us to engage directly with professionals who influence business location decisions,” said Kira Loomis, Business Development Specialist at The Chamber. “Bringing them into our community helps showcase what makes northeastern Pennsylvania a strong choice for investment.” This annual event highlights the region’s prime location, resources and business climate, all aimed at driving long-term economic success.
ShopRite of Daleville hosts ribbon cutting for new EVgo station ShopRite of Daleville hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony with The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce to debut its new EVgo electric vehicle charging station on Tuesday, July 14. Community members joined ShopRite representatives and employees for the ceremony. The new station has four charging stalls, including one high-power charger that’s capable of charging two vehicles at the same time. ShopRite representatives say this new addition will help provide convenient, reliable access to power for electric vehicle drivers throughout the community.
Cornerstone Caregiving celebrates grand opening with ribbon cutting Cornerstone Caregiving has opened its facility at 1310 Church Street in Moscow and celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 10. The Cornerstone team also hosted an open house event after the ceremony, where community members were able to tour the facility and learn more about the compassionate care the center provides. Cornerstone provides round-the-clock in-home services for senior citizens.
Ribbon cutting for World Cup Scranton The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 6, 2026 for World Cup Scranton’s new location at the historic Watres Armory on Adams Avenue in Scranton. Chamber staff and influencers joined community members to congratulate the all-star competitive cheer organization and fitness center.
Big Boy No. 4014 brought estimated $16-$17 million in revenue to northeastern PA The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and Steamtown National Historic Site are celebrating the tremendous success of Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 visit to Scranton, an event that captivated tens of thousands of visitors and generated an estimated $16 million to $17 million in economic impact throughout northeastern Pennsylvania. The historic locomotive’s appearance at Steamtown National Historic Site marked one of the region’s largest tourism events in recent years, drawing railroad enthusiasts, families and visitors from across the country to experience the rare opportunity to see the world’s largest operating steam locomotive. The event was part of Big Boy No. 4014’s nationwide tour commemorating America’s 250th anniversary. “The success of the Big Boy Reunion represents far more than a milestone for Steamtown National Historic Site – it demonstrates what can be achieved when a national park and its gateway community embrace a shared purpose,” said Jeremy Komasz, superintendent of Steamtown National Historic Site. “The Big Boy Reunion demonstrated that when we invest in exceptional visitor experiences through strong partnerships, everyone benefits—the National Park Service, our partners, local businesses, residents, and the gateway communities that welcome millions of visitors to America’s national parks each year.” The successful visit also highlighted northeastern Pennsylvania’s growing reputation as a destination for heritage tourism and large-scale events, creating opportunities for continued economic growth and increased visibility on a national stage.
KSG Civil Structural Engineers celebrates presence in Downtown Scranton KSG Civil Structural Engineers hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new location at 318 Penn Avenue in downtown Scranton on Tuesday, June 23. Friends, community leaders, and local professionals gathered for the event. KSG is committed to building stronger communities through innovation, expertise, and engineering excellence.
The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce Appoints Taryn Talacka as Marketing and Communications Director The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the addition of Taryn Talacka as our new Director of Marketing and Communications. In this role, Talacka will be responsible for creating marketing materials and strategies for The Chamber and its divisions, gathering content for Momentum Magazine, and producing All Things Chamber and All Things Members, two of The Chamber’s successful video productions. Before joining The Chamber, Talacka served as the Marketing Manager for dining services at King’s College, where she created print and digital marketing materials and led student-centered dining events. With a proven track record of social media management, video production, and media relations, Talacka brings valuable experience that aligns perfectly with our mission to attract, sustain, and grow business throughout northeastern Pennsylvania. “We are excited to welcome Taryn Talacka as The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce’s new Director of Marketing and Communications,” said Kristine Augustine, Vice President of Membership and Marketing at The Chamber. “Her extensive experience in strategic marketing, storytelling, and audience engagement will be a tremendous asset as we continue to strengthen our brand and serve our members and community.” Members of the local business community are encouraged to reach out to Talacka at ttalacka@scrantonchamber.com or 570-341-7711 ext. 157.
Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce Hosts PennDOT Officials for Capitol Conversations Series Elected officials, along with business and community leaders, gathered at The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce on June 19, for another Capitol Conversation series, featuring a transportation and infrastructure update from the Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Michael Carroll and PennDOT District 4 Executive Jonathan Eboli, P.E. Secretary Carroll addressed transportation funding challenges and their impact on PennDOT projects, including the addition of third lanes along spans of Interstate 81 the status of proposed Scranton-N.Y. passenger rail service, and the proposed Scranton Beltway projects. District Executive Eboli and Secretary Carroll gave updates on upcoming infrastructure investments throughout Lackawanna County, including improvements to Keystone Industrial Park Road, bridge preservation work on the North Scranton Expressway, the rehabilitation of Cedar Avenue and Spruce Street, and a future bridge replacement project on West Lackawanna Avenue. The officials also highlighted Operation Yellow Jacket, a partnership between PennDOT and the Pennsylvania State Police aimed at improving work zone safety. Recent legislation and speed cameras have helped reduce speeding in work zones, but he noted continued efforts are needed to protect workers. Capitol Conversations is an informational series sponsored by The Chamber under the Government Affairs Committee. The sessions feature elected and appointed officials speaking with Chamber leaders and members on topics of importance to the business community.
Leadership Lackawanna Recognizes 2026 Core Program Graduates at Celebration of Leadership Leadership Lackawanna, the community leadership and professional development division of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, hosted its 2026 Celebration of Leadership event, which honored participants in Leadership Lackawanna’s 10-month Core Program on Thursday, June 18, 2026. The event was held at Hilton Scranton & Conference Center, and included business networking, an end-of-year review and video, and raffles, along with the presentation of certificates to graduates. Graduates of the program were recognized for their commitment throughout 10 months of leadership development, learning, and participation in one of four class projects. A highlight of the program, class projects in collaboration with Countryside Conservancy, Friendship House, United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and the Greater Scranton YMCA were commended during the ceremony. Working with Countryside Conservancy, members of the Core class assisted in renovating part of the conservancy’s outdoor space by building a new bridge, clearing vegetation, installing signage, and creating a picnic area. Another group partnered with Friendship House to renovate a classroom within the Autism Center, repainting and redesigning the space to create a more welcoming environment. Core participants also collaborated with United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania to modernize the organization’s Angel’s Attic facility, which provides food and clothing to neighbors in need. In partnership with the Greater Scranton YMCA, members of the class also helped launch the “Foundations for the Future Project,” an initiative focused on improving the YMCA’s recreational and learning spaces. Read more about the 2026 Core Program Class Projects. Leadership Lackawanna extends thanks to the sponsors of the 2026 Core Program including designBLD, Penn East Federal Credit Union, PPL Electric Utilities, Quandel Construction Group, Inc., Maximus Foundation, Geisinger, Times Shamrock Communications, PNC Bank, Center City Print, Friendship House, and Golden Technologies. Leadership Lackawanna also recognizes the graduates of its 2026 Core Program for their commitment throughout the 10-month leadership experience. 2026 Core Program Graduates Amanda Friday – Peoples Security Bank & Trust Amanda Lyn Brown – Penn East Federal Credit Union Anthony Salva, LCSW – Integrative Mind and Body Services Brittani Pulse – Nunzi’s Advertising Christopher M. Pahoski – Benco Dental Courtney Rittenhouse – Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA Daneece A. Jones – Greater Scranton YMCA Deanna Smith – AAA North Penn Diana Latsko – Maximus Federal Services Douglas A. Hein – Scranton Counseling Center Eric Eiden – Lackawanna College Haley Houck – Fidelity Bank Jason Carpenter – designBLD John Conte lll – The Honesdale National Bank John P Joyce – Lackawanna County Jose Santiago de los Rios – Tuxedo by Sarno Joshua Cole Howells – Allied Services Julianna Cardillo – Penn State (Scranton) Linda Beck – United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania Madison Theobald – Penn East Federal Credit Union Maria Day – Penn State (Scranton) Mateo Arroyopabon – The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company Matt Coolbaugh – Quandel Construction Group, Inc. Pete Gentile – City of Scranton Sarah Bauman – Montage Mountain Resorts Walter Kosak – Plaskolite
