Support the fund the extension of sewer service in Eastern Pike County

The following is a copy of a letter sent by Michael J. Sullivan, the executive director at Pike County Economic Development Authority, to Milford Borough President Joseph Dooley.

Dear President Dooley:

Please let this letter serve as an official request from the Board of Directors of the Pike County Economic Development Authority to develop the funding for the extension of our existing sewer to cover Matamoras Borough, Westfall Township, and Milford Borough in Eastern Pike County.

This letter is a result of a vote taken by the Board of Directors.

Infrastructure expansion is the most strategically important effort to promote and facilitate new jobs, taxable entities and commerce in our county.

By extending sewer services and stormwater management facilities we will be opening many sites for thoughtful economic development projects throughout Eastern Pike County.

Over the years, we have had many interested parties looking at Pike County who failed to act because they needed infrastructure services to accommodate their operational needs. Sewer and stormwater facilities are at the top of the list of services demanded by companies looking to relocate to Pike County.

A good example: we had a factory owner who wanted to relocate from New York to Pike County. A fatal problem arose because his manufacturing business had 6,000+ gallons of effluent per day. While we had a wonderful site zoned for Manufacturing (by right) we could not consummate the deal because of the effluent requirements. Consequently, we lost scores of high paying jobs, new taxes, and a stimulus to our local economy.

This is but one example, albeit a classic example. I can tell you that the EDA received over 33 inquiries in 2024 (and about 45% of those inquiries specified requirements for sewer services). Already in 2025, we have had 16 new inquiries.

(We have seen two projects that seem to be making inquiries to get around the proposed U.S. tariffs. One is from Taiwan and the other is from Spain. We expect to see more than usual inquiries from reshoring companies this year.)

These inquiries come from only one source. We receive many others from other sources as well.

The EDA Board understands that to help Pike diversify our economy from our Leisure and Hospitality footing, these sewer facilities are critical. We love the jobs we have but we must attract additional industries that pay higher salaries. To do that, we need to develop additional sites suitable for targeted industries like manufacturing.

To accommodate those industries, we must have the infrastructure and especially the proposed sewer extension and stormwater facilities.

We strongly urge you to secure the necessary (appropriations) funding for these important projects. We sincerely believe that sewer services for Eastern Pike County would be a most welcome catalyst for enhancing our economy.

Thank you for your good efforts on this subject.

Michael J. Sullivan

Executive Director