Negotiations are still happening to receive flood relief money for Scranton Manufacturing.

Midwest Partnership Executive Director Chad Schreck says flooding has been a continuing issue for Scranton Manufacturing and discussions are currently taking place to help solve that situation with Greene County Economic Development.

One option that doesn’t look likely to happen is receiving Hazard Mitigation funds.  Schreck explains that the program looks at community-based organizations and he feels that Scranton Manufacturing employs a wide range of community members but that’s not how the other side feels.

“The initial indication is that this isn’t the type of project that fits their perimeters the greatest.  We’re talking to them and we’re hoping to work through that.  Hazard Mitigation would be great because of the large percentage of a project they would fund (and) if not, we’ve got to find other options.”

Other options, Schreck adds, are USDA Rural Development Loan program with a potential 0% interest rate, Region XII Council of Governments Revolving Loan program and involving both the City of Scranton and Greene County.

Scranton Manufacturing Vice President of Operations Jim Ober explains that their biggest concern is if they want to expand the current facility in Scranton, that there needs to be a way to reroute the water downstream to create better runoff.