County Loan Okayed for Travel Stop in Lock Haven

LOCK HAVEN – The Clinton County Commissioners approved $800,000 in county revolving loan funds for a planned travel stop in Lock Haven. At Thursday’s board meeting, the commissioners approved two $400,000 loans for VASAS Inc., doing business as Lucky 7 Travel Plaza to be located just off the Walnut Street exit of Paul Mack Boulevard.

Sharanjit “Sonny” Singh plans to develop a convenience store and gas station, not far from the new truck entrance to First Quality Tissue, where up to 150 trucks could soon pass on a daily basis. Singh will also have a Wayback Burgers Franchise at the site and a slot machine/casino area (five slots machines have been approved by the state). The total project is estimated to be approximately $6 million with 24 jobs expected to be created over the next three years. One $400,000 county revolving loan will go toward land purchase, and the other to help finance equipment. Woodlands Bank is the financing partner, and the Lock Haven University Small Business Development Center has also been involved.

Singh owns and operates the Bald Eagle Truck Stop in McElhattan, where 15 people are employed. The new plaza will be over 10,000 square feet, about double the size of the Wayne Township facility. Construction should begin in August, with an opening in early 2020. The project will be built on property formerly owned by Lucky 7 Meats and L.W. Peters Disposal Service.

“We thank Sonny and Michelle Singh for the investment in our greater community,” said Revolving Loan secretary Mike Flanagan. “This is going to be a very nice facility and one that is needed in the City. Walnut Street is seeing some positive changes with this project and First Quality’s new access road. The revolving loan board members, City of Lock Haven and the county commissioners have been very supportive of this project and all of us look forward to its completion.”