CLEARFIELD – The Lock Haven University Clearfield Speaker Series hosted Kenneth Hall, director of Human and Cultural Diversity at Lock Haven University, Thursday evening. The event was sponsored by CNB Bank.
Introduced by Marianne Hazel, Clearfield Campus’ Interim Dean and Associate Provost, Hall presented about the social and economic impact of the influx of gas workers.
“Workers are very much the face of the industry,” Hall said. They’re the face and the defenders of the process whether they want to be or not. Hall said these gas workers get a “raw deal” and they have to defend what they’ve come to Pennsylvania to do – provide for their families.
Central Pennsylvania has become a focal point, rather than just somewhere to pass through, for one of the largest natural resources in the world, Hall said.
With the increase in the gas workers in communities, it presents a huge problem for housing because communities aren’t prepared. Because of lack of preparation, rents have been raised two or three times, and they are based on a first come, first serve basis. Hall said there are some communities really struggling to find housing, and homelessness was also increasing. Hall frequently referred to the socioeconomic depression in the United States.
Despite some community’s negative reaction to the influx of gas workers, many communities thought of the gas to have a “boomtown” effect. This was described as a community that sees money, but the people don’t see any of that money.
“The problem is government isn’t as proactive as it needs to be to monitor the level of the situation,” Hall said. There is no orientation for workers or community members, and they need to be building partnership. There are now suffering communities rather than flourishing.
“Local governments are often caught unprepared by the waves of new growth and at disadvantage mitigate potential growth,” Hall said in a slide presentation.
The social cost and perception of risks of the influx of gas workers are as follows: home insurance increases, home value decreases, agriculture impacts, road repair and maintenance, impact on schools and service industries, increase in crime and social tension and animosity between “newcomers” and “old timers” or between residents.
“If natural gas evolves as people suggest, it could have economic benefits for Pennsylvania for the next 30-50 years,” Hall said. Hall also said a community needs to be savvy to plant financial seeds to then be able to reap the benefits.
“Workers deal through perceptions that are not always true,” Hall said. The gas companies are business people moving forward with an agenda, the local government must meet the needs of citizens, Hall said.
The LHU Clearfield Speaker Series is an outreach program for the campus and community made by physicians, faculty and other community members. The speaker series is one way LHU Clearfield Campus is looking to strengthen the campus relationship with the community. For more information about LHU Clearfield, contact the administrative office at 814-765-3405.