WHITE MILLS, PA — The Sports Factory of Northeastern Pennsylvania, a 30,000 square-foot complex in the building that was once the Chromo-Tube Factory in White Mills, will hold a grand opening and open house on Saturday, December 12. The center will provide comprehensive training and treatment for athletes in a variety of sports, including baseball, softball, soccer, football, lacrosse and field hockey.

Pro Prospects Training Center, a baseball and softball skill development academy, is one of the tenants that will move into the complex. The Sports Factory will also be the new home to T.A.S.S. Soccer of Northeastern Pennsylvania, a training and travel soccer program run by Gerry Linn who is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

The venture has attracted several other sports-related outfits, including ProCare, which operates physical therapy and coaching centers across Pennsylvania, as well as offering occupational and speech therapy services and athletic training services. Honesdale native Kristina Wulff will serve as ProCare’s facility director and physical therapist.

The Sports Factory has also partnered with Greco Sports, which has run sports leagues and tournaments throughout the Hudson Valley, NY and Northeast Pennsylvania for more than 20 years. Greco will offer indoor youth soccer leagues for boys and girls of all ages and skill levels and adult indoor and outdoor soccer, flag football and whiffle ball leagues starting this winter.

Pursuit Field Hockey is another addition to The Sports Factory’s team of training services. Pursuit director Rebecca Maciejewski just finished her 14th season coaching at the varsity level at Honesdale High School. Under her guidance, Honesdale earned its best record in 32 years in 2012, making the district championship game.

Elite Martial Arts Institute, a certified member of the World Tang Soo Do Association (WTSDA), will open its fourth location at The Sports Factory and will be offering classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, including traditional Tang Soo Do Karate, self defense. The head instructor is Rick Harsche, a WTSDA internationally-certified fifth-degree master instructor and an international tournament judge, training and teaching for more than 28 years.

The sports complex is part of a larger effort to resurrect a factory that once was an important part of the region’s economy, and is the vision of the buildings’ owner, Rudy Schemitz. He purchased the shuttered manufacturing plant and former wood shovel and tool company last year with plans to expand his business, New Wave Custom Woodworking, to spur economic growth in the area, and provide recreation opportunities for kids in the community.

Schemitz said, “I want to bring this place back to life and make it something the community can be proud of again. That’s really important to me.”