Terrapin Pennsylvania Holds Ribbon-Cutting at New Facility
SOUTH AVIS – Clinton County’s newest employer, Pennsylvania Terrapin, held a ribbon-cutting Wednesday at its Henry Street facility in Pine Creek Township. Pennsylvania Terrapin’s chief executive Chris Woods joined local officials in the program and wielded the scissors for the ribbon-cutting.
Woods said the event was “an opportunity to thank the community and state and local leaders for wholeheartedly supporting Terrapin’s efforts to bring socially-responsible medical cannabis production to Clinton County.”
Terrapin presently employs 43 people, Woods telling therecord-online that virtually all are local hires. That number contrasts to just a handful of employees late last year as the company was beginning operations and a workforce of 10 when Terrapin held a local job fair in late February. He also disclosed the company has taken an option on additional available space at the Harris Street facility. Woods said the company has no immediate plans for expansion, but the agreement preserves for Terrapin the right to grow locally as the market for medical marijuana dictates.
Woods said Terrapin’s biggest success story was its role in helping create VetForce, a new firm that provides Terrapin’s South Avis operation security and employs a local workforce composed of 80 percent veterans. VetForce founder Dave Harger was recognized for the endeavor.
Speakers included state Rep. Mike Hanna (D-Clinton/Centre) who noted the importance to the local economy that Terrapin has provided and asked his audience not to forget Terrapin’s product “providing medicine to patients in need.”
Terrapin Pennsylvania is one of 12 recipients of a state medical cannabis grow/process license. Its parent company, Boulder, Colorado-based Terrapin Care Station started as a medical cannabis provider in Colorado in 2009; it describes itself as a full-service seed-to-sale marijuana business. It has five storefronts in Colorado, a retail cannabis license in Oregon and its grower/processor license (South Avis) in Pennsylvania.
