Ashley Machine and Tools owner John Mulhern shows Gayle Manchin, the federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, some of the parts that his company manufactures. Manchin, along with members of the DCED and NEPA Alliance, were in West Wyoming to start their two-day tour of several businesses and academic institutions in the area.
Kevin Carroll | Times Leader
Co-chair of Appalachian Regional Commission visits business
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WEST WYOMING — With economic growth and the future of the region in mind, federal co-chair of the Applachian Regional Commission (ARC) Gayle Manchin kicked off a two-day tour of several area businesses and institutions with a stop at Ashley Machine and Tool on Monday afternoon.
Manchin was flanked by members of the state Department of Community and Economic Development and members of the NEPA Alliance on the tour through Ashley Machine’s manufacturing space, led by the business’s owner John Mulhern and his son, Zachary.
“We’re glad that she is here,” Mulhern said. “Anything that the ARC could do to help us, help manufacturing, help aerospace … I’m all for it.”
The tour was expected to include U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, who has worked to increase funding for the ARC. Cartwright did not attend Monday’s tour; a statement issued to the Times Leader later on Monday evening indicated that Cartwright was meeting with commissioners from Pike County on an “important economic development initiative.”
Manchin, who was appointed as ARC federal co-chair earlier this year and is the wife of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, was looking forward to checking out Ashley Machine as well as the other stops on her two-day tour of the area.
“I’m very excited to be here,” Manchin said. “This is my first visit to Pennsylvania to actually be on-site at an ARC project to see how our partnerships are working.”
The ARC is a development partnership agency covering parts of the 13 states along the Applachian Trail. The agency provides boosts to businesses, higher-learning institutions and other organizations in the form of grants and investments into regional projects.
It’s all aimed toward strengthening local economies and helping to grow businesses throughout the Applachian region.
“The ARC doesn’t just give out money, it was formed to be a partnership. … It’s a partnership at every level,” Manchin said.
“Projects gain support at the local level, they gain support from nonprofit organizations and then the ARC comes in as the third leg.”
Manchin remarked that the ARC was looking to diversify its projects with an emphasis on aerospace manufacturing, which made Ashley Machine the perfect place to start her trip through Northeastern Pennsylvania.
In business since 1945, Ashley Machine and Tool is a manufacturer of aerospace products, with a long list of clients spread all over the country.
“We ship to Florida, to California, basically all over the place,” Mulhern said.
Mulhern led the tour through Ashley’s manufacturing space, showing her some of the products manufactured on-site, while fielding questions about the business and its future.
Mulhern mentioned that he was looking to potentially branch out of aerospace, citing the medical field as a potential new direction for the manufacturing plant.
He also stressed his biggest hope for the ARC after the tour came to an end Monday.
“I hope they heard my message. I specifically hope they could help with cybersecurity,” Mulhern said. “It’s hard for a small shop like us to handle things the way our bigger clients want.
“So hopefully the ARC could help with financial help or grants, or even some type of training to that effect.”
The tour will continue tomorrow with a 10 a.m. stop at Belrick Corporation in Swoyersville before heading north to visit Johnson College and Lackawanna College.
Cartwright’s office confirmed that the congressman will be joining the group for tomorrow’s tour stops.