Thompson Makes Pre-Election Stop in Renovo
by Barbara Mastriania
RENOVO – When U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Howard, met at Yesterday’s with a few business people in Renovo last Friday, conversation ranged from the challenges owners face operating a small business in rural Western Clinton County to the potential for tourism.
Business owners talked about the cost of operating in an area with low population and a slow economy. Seasonal businesses have income only part of the year but expenses like taxes, sewage and water are ongoing throughout the year. Maintenance and repair costs are often prohibitive, they said. Tax assessment was discussed. One person said he built a new barn and it was taxed higher than his home.
Those attending included Mike Glazer, aide to Thompson; Alice Tarr of North Bend Cemetery; Roy Darrin of Renovo Rail; Tim Keohane of Small Business Development Center of Lock Haven University; Renovo Mayor Carl Olshefski; Marlene Ruhl, a retired business woman and author; Renovo councilwoman Merry Ann Olshefski; Jean Nestlerode of Service Garage; Chuck Dillon, an aide to Sen. Joe Scarnati; Bill Ross of Keystone Hotel, Socky’s Restaurant and Bucktail Enterprises; and Jim Russo, board member with Renovo Rail and business owner in Lock Haven.
Thompson praised the local focus on turning around blighted properties and said that government can help with such efforts. He also said promoting tourism geared toward the area’s natural resources is an opportunity to bring people in and to improve the local economy.
Dillon, from the Wellsboro area, said Wellsboro has improved its economy and grown businesses by marketing the PA Grand Canyon. “You have to market what you have,” he said. Russo who is an investor in Renovo Rail praised the Renovo community and the Flaming Foliage committee, “You can be proud of yourself for what you did for Flaming Foliage Festival.”
Thompson said that during Flaming Foliage he took guests from Venango County up to Hyner View and his guests said the view “surpasses anything” in their part of the state, describing the view along with events unique to the area a little known treasure. He said the area’s railroad history could also be a tourist attraction for railroad enthusiasts.
Glazer, aide to Thompson, said Renovo needs a web page, a web page presence so that if someone types in Renovo, information about the area events and attributes come up for viewing. He said SEDA-COG may be able to help.
Thompson said the Pennsylvania Wilds program may be of help as well because Clinton County is in the PA Wilds region.
Keohane of the SBDC told business owners about a number of resources such as the low interest countywide revolving loan program and the Clinton County Enterprise program for commercially zoned properties.
