WELLSBORO - The former Westan Tannery property in Westfield continues on its journey toward becoming a Keystone Economic Opportunity Zone.
Bob Blair, president and CEO of the Tioga County Development Corp. (TCDC), announced Friday that three taxing entities have adopted resolutions approving the KEOZ for the property and the county is expected to adopt its resolution at the Oct. 23 meeting.
"We have closed on two of the properties, and deeded over three to the borough. A small portion of land was deeded over to Electricord," he said.
"A lot of people have been working on this since 2005 and we have been moving slowly towards that. We are also working to pursue some funding," he said.
There is still about $8,000 left in the clean-up fund, Blair added.
"The borough did some clean-up of the property and we continue to clean up around the area," he said.
The clean-up funds are what TCDC was able to retain from the sale of some of the chemicals, which started at $40,000, he added.
In related business, directors approved submitting a grant application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a minimum $50,000 Rural Business Economic Grant to do a marketing feasibility study and business plan development study for the business park; and resubmitting a grant application for an Environmental Protection Agency grant for lead remediation where the tannery had their paint building to get Act 2 approval.
During the director's roundtable reports, Growth Resources of Wellsboro secretary Mary Worthington reported that a new manager has been hired for the Wellsboro Airport.
"Craig Muster started mid-September. He is a certified instructor/ mechanic and pilot, and has been providing rides over the canyon," Worthington said. "He seems to be the perfect match and is doing really well, very devoted. The rail business is doing well, freight dropped off seriously in September, but the excursion train is going full tilt," she said.
Worthington also announced that the Chamber of Commerce/GROW dinner will be held Monday, Oct. 31 at the Penn Wells Hotel with Steve Johnson of Susquehanna Health Systems as guest speaker.
Shell Appalachia representative Deb Sawyer announced there will be an open house for the public Nov. 8, at the Whitneyville fairgrounds from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
"Topics so far are land pipeline, and water at the top of the list," she said.
Directors also:
Approved appointing Ryan Satalin, commercial loan officer with Citizens and Northern Bank to the loan committee to fill a vacancy.
Approved a new policy for posting signage on Department of Community and Economic Development funded projects.
Heard that the Tioga County unemployment rate in August stood at 7.9 percent.
Heard that Blair will attend his last Pennsylvania Economic Development Association Team Pennsylvania meeting Nov. 9.
