Terrapin Care Station Job Fair Termed Resounding Success:

LOCK HAVEN – Clinton County’s newest employer, Terrapin Care Station, had its first public job fair Thursday and the Pine Creek Township-based company was elated with the results.

The fair started at 1 p.m. at VFW Post 1630 and by mid-afternoon some 200 people had already signed up for an opportunity to work for Terrapin, a medical marijuana grower/processor located along Henry Street in South Avis. The fair was to continue to 5 p.m.

Terrapin chief executive, Chris Woods, said he was “blown away” by the community response. Woods said the company is now operating with a core of 10 employees and expects to shortly add another 10 to 15 based on the job fair with another 15 jobs coming in future months.

Woods said the South Avis facility is two to three weeks from completing the production process and beginning the distribution of medical cannabis products. He said the company sales manager is working with dispensaries within Pennsylvania which will sell prescribed medical marijuana to qualified patients with serious medical conditions.

The job fair was a joint effort of the state’s Job Fair program, Terrapin Care and VetForce, a new security firm started by local contractor Dave Harger who was interviewing prospective employees. Terrapin has pledged that 30 percent of its employee hires will be veterans. Terrapin had previously announced its work to highlight the medicinal value of cannabis, especially for veterans who struggle with opiod abuse and PTSD.

VetForce has been working with Terrapin to develop services and outreach to veterans. Terrapin Care Station is one of 12 recipients of a state growing/processing license. With roots in Boulder, Colo., Terrapin has been a medical cannabis provider dating to 2009. With some 200 employees overall, TCS is a full-service seed-to-sale marijuana business with five storefronts in Colorado, a retail cannabis license in Oregon and its medical license in Pennsylvania.