KERSEY – The North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission’s NC Partnership for Regional Economic Performance (NC PREP) in coordination with the Export Marketing Program recently welcomed Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development Chief Commercial Officer Aaron Pitts and members of his team to the region as part of an economic tour.
North Central’s Director of Enterprise Development Chris Perneski welcomed the group and led tours of Gasbarre Products Inc. in DuBois and Emporium Hardwoods in Cameron County.
“The NC PREP network appreciated the opportunity to welcome and introduce DCED to businesses and the unique prospects that are featured within the region,” Perneski said.
“We are very appreciative of both Gasbarre Products and Emporium Hardwoods for showcasing their advanced manufacturing processes.
“The support of the NC PREP network partners during the luncheon portion and throughout the day was incredible. The network is available to the region to promote opportunity and growth is the most valuable resource to the region.”
The North Central team of Perneski, Deb Delhunty, Mikala Biondi, Sherry Dumire and Kurt Mennitti hosted Pitts, along with Deputy Secretary David Briel, and Christa Mummau, who serves a trade program manager for DCED, for a day-long event focusing on the success of the region’s hardwood industry, the pressed materials sector and the potential for future mineral cultivation within the region.
During the luncheon, Pitts told attendees he is working to replicate an Ohio jobs program in Pennsylvania that is designed to attract businesses and jobs to the Keystone State.
He said the program’s goal is to create 25,000 jobs each year over four years, which would cut the state’s current level of 223,100 nearly in half.
The program, Pitts said, would not be privatized but would be an amalgamation of six entities working together.
“We want to replicate it here and call it One PA,” Pitts said. “We are going to put partners together and we are going to love, care and feed our existing employers. I think it starts and ends with that.”
Jodi Brennan, who serves on the North Central Board of Directors representing Clearfield County Planning & Community Development, discussed hydrogen, solar and critical mineral development opportunities for the region.
She said natural gas has become a major player in industry in the six-county region, and the transition of the Shawville Generating Station from coal to natural gas now has emissions that are 18 percent of when the plant was a coal-fired plant.
The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2), which is currently in development, is geared toward the U.S. Department of Energy’s research on producing hydrogen from renewable resources, Brennan said, which could be used to produce electricity or hydrogen fuel for fuel-cell electric vehicles and other applications.
Solar development is growing in the region and the plans that have currently been submitted, Brennan said, would provide enough energy for homes in the six-county region.
Allegheny Hardwoods Utilization Group Executive Director Amy Shields gave a presentation on the state’s hardwoods industry, which is the lumber capital of the world.
Shields said the six-county region is nestled in what is known as the Wood Basket of Pennsylvania. She discussed how the organization not only markets and provides educational outreach on the industry but also participates in research projects directed at forest health and moving the industry forward.
In addition, she said 58 percent of the state is forested and 90 percent of trees are hardwoods. The region accounts for the largest volume hardwood forest in the nation and has over 100 species of trees.
The industry provides robust jobs and helps sustain the economy of the six-county region as trees are also conduits for clean air and water and recreational opportunities, in addition to increasing carbon storage.
The industry supports 63,000 jobs and, as of 2022, has a $21 billion direct economic impact and a $36 million total economic impact on the state.