CLEARFIELD – A delegation of elected and economic development officials from Clearfield County will visit the People’s Republic of China from April 7-14, announced the Clearfield County Commissioners at their meeting on Tuesday.
In November of 2015, a delegation of officials from Lanling County, Shandong Province, China visited Clearfield County. Their visit resulted in successful discussions, and a delegation from Clearfield County was later invited to visit Lanling County, said Commissioner John A. Sobel, chairman.
Clearfield County will send Commissioners Sobel and Tony Scotto, along with Rob Swales, chief executive officer, Paul McCloskey, vice president of energy and business development, and Dave Schultz, board chairman, all of Clearly Ahead Development.
During the Clearfield County delegation’s visit in Lanling County, Sobel and Scotto are expected to sign a sister-county agreement with authorization being approved at Tuesday’s meeting. This will establish economic and cultural ties between both counties and both nations, explained Sobel.
According to Sobel, the county’s delegation will also visit Beijing, where meetings will be held with various Chinese business entities. These entities, he said, have interests in investing in the United States. “The goal of these meetings will be to spur investment in Clearfield County, along with the trade of products developed here in Clearfield County,” said Sobel.
“We feel strongly that Clearfield County has wonderful potential for business and economic development.” Sobel then called attention to the county’s motivated workforce, abundance of natural resources, central location and infrastructure. “It’s the perfect place to invest in.”
Scotto noted Clearfield County officials aren’t the first ones in the commonwealth to visit China. He said Chester County officials have initiated Chinese relations, as it helps develop foreign direct investments. “It creates jobs here,” said Scotto, noting China has an interest in the county’s wood products and natural gas. “This is a great opportunity.”
Commissioner Mark B. McCracken said it was important for the Clearfield County delegation to visit China. Although he will not be a part of the delegation and its visit, McCracken said he was 100 percent behind the mission of his fellow commissioners and Clearly Ahead officials.
“The potential for success is very high,” said McCracken. He said the fact the Chinese delegation invited them to come over speaks highly for their interests in north-central Pennsylvania. “They are not only going on behalf of Clearfield County, but also the entire region.”
Swales said over the past two years, the county has hosted six, different visits from Chinese delegations. Of those, he said there were more than a dozen manufacturers and company decision-makers represented during visits to Clearfield County.
Clearly Ahead, Swales said, has focused on promoting opportunities with energy-intense industries due to the county’s existing infrastructure and the cost of doing business here. He said Clearly Ahead has specifically been targeting the opportunities that exist at the 1,800-acre Riverhill site in Karthaus.
“We are excited to follow-up with a very aggressive itinerary for a seven-day visit,” said Swales.
Sobel said when government officials leave their area, it’s important to have someone to “keep an eye on the store” at home. McCracken, he said, was willing to remain in Clearfield County to fill that need. Both Sobel and Scotto stressed they were paying their own travel expenses, and the trip to China wouldn’t create any financial burden for the county.