Croda highlighted at Clinton County Economic Partnership Dinner
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LOCK HAVEN -- Continued growth was a major topic at the Clinton County Economic Partnership's 34th Annual dinner.
Croda, Inc. Site Manager Chris Barnett served as the event's keynote speaker at the Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center on Wednesday night. Over 200 people gathered to hear Barnett, who spoke about Croda's origins, its Mill Hall plant and its work at the new facility in the William Garbrick, Sr. Lamar Industrial Park.
Barnett manages the Mill Hall and Lamar facilities and has almost 30 years of knowledge he's brought to his new role. He is a graduate of Penn State University where he received a bachelor's degree and master's degree in chemical engineering.
Barnett returned to central Pennsylvania, where he was born and raised, after working managing the largest of Croda's 24 manufacturing sites in New Castle, Del.
During his presentation, Barnett touched on the work being done at the company's newest facility at 88 Heckman's Gap Road, Mill Hall.
Croda purchased the building -- located in the William Garbrick Lamar Memorial Industrial Park -- in 2021 and has since put roughly $13 million so far into improvements to the facility.
Barnett noted Croda intends to invest $133 million into the building with a completion date expected to be 2025.
The facility's role in Croda will center around Lipid Nanoparticle research which is key in vaccine research, Barnett said.
"I'm hoping this won't be the only thing we're working on by 2025," he continued. "Things that are not just going to be for vaccines but help cure cancer. I'm hoping we can expand beyond this in the future."
Barnett said the Lamar facility will feature state-of-the-art technology in its meeting rooms and labs and be a very clean and sanitary building for the work being done.
"At the end of the day it will have a lot of clean spaces," he said.
By 2025, Barnett said Croda hopes to staff 40 to 50 employees at the plant. Currently, it staffs about 20 employees -- not including construction workers.
Barnett also touched on its Mill Hall facility, noting Croda has invested $50 million into the plant over three years, with plans to invest another $50 million in another three years.
The Mill Hall plant, which ships products throughout the world, employs 180 people on 30 acres of land with 24/7 operations.
He also spoke briefly about Croda's commitment to the community.
"We've had a great history here in Clinton County,' he said.
Barnett said operating in Clinton County since 1965 has offered the company the ability to grow - such as with its Lamar plant. And there are plans to continue growth in the area.
"We're also hoping to expand sustainability," he said.
That not only includes a reduction in its carbon footprint, such as potentially installing solar fields, but also sustainability within the community and its people.
Barnett said all Croda employees are encouraged to take part in the 1% Club which asks them to donate 1% of their work time to the community.
Recently, employees have donated time at the Ross Library for its annual book sale and the Pay It Forward program, too.
"We're getting people to work with local schools in STEM," he said, noting Croda helped pay for students in the Keystone Central School District to attend a STEM Camp at Bucknell University in the summer.
"We're trying to get out there and tell people who we are," he said.
Barnett encouraged anyone who wanted to learn more about Croda to visit www.croda.com.