Until recently, most Pennsylvanians would think of the Little League World Series when they heard of Williamsport. A few may think of small airplanes since, from the 1930’s to the 1960’s, the region was the home of the Piper Cub. Others may think of the ‘Millionaires’, the curious name of the Williamsport High School’s sports teams, and some of those may even link the moniker to the late 1800’s when, thanks to the lumber industry, Williamsport sported more millionaires than any other town in America. However, today the name ‘Williamsport’ is being linked with prosperity, growth, opportunity and progress.
Modern Williamsport’s renaissance is driven by energy. Like other smaller metro areas, the region’s biggest employers are in the health care, education, retail, and manufacturing sectors. However, the region is also the gateway into a large part of the Marcellus Shale fairway. The county has 15 separate businesses in the mineral extraction business and the 491 employees of those companies enjoy an average annual wage of over $71,000, more than twice the county average. Combine these jobs with the 8915 manufacturing jobs paying roughly the state average wage ($45,000 annually) and you have healthy and sustainable micro economy and the very picture of prosperity.
Prosperity leads to opportunity and opportunity leads to growth. Visible and tangible growth is progress. In Lycoming County, bridges are being rebuilt, rail lines restored and the airport improved. Local businesses and local governments are investing in improvement projects, revitalization of the downtown, and construction of new hotels, new single and multi-family housing, sprucing up parks and the library, and improving municipal services.
Progress doesn’t just happen. Goods and services are required. The knowledge of the architect and engineer needs combined with the skill of the construction worker. Once the construction phase is complete then others operate and maintain the project. In this way the very act of progress, of growth, becomes the driver for prosperity and creates new and different opportunity. The recent opening of L. Robert Kimball’s Williamsport office, after successfully working on projects like the Trade and Transit Intermodal Center, the Church Street Transportation Center, the new Kohl’s and Cinemaplex, and the Armed Forces Reserve Center, is evidence of this very phenomenon.
I expect that Williamsport will remain famous for the Little League World Series. After all, it is one of the best sporting events on earth. I also expect, and have witnessed, this same progress in other Pennsylvania communities. This progress is being founded on prosperity created in the community and it is a sustainable prosperity which will create new opportunity. That is, to borrow a phrase, ‘rest of the story’ about Piper Aircraft. In 1930, William T. Piper, fresh from success in exploring for oil near Bradford, Pennsylvania, bought a bankrupt aircraft manufacturer to make his vision of a low-cost airplane, the Piper Cub, take flight. Success breeds success and prosperity breeds prosperity.
Comments