How We See It
An Endeavor Editorial

Ask a local high school student where he or she expects to be living 10 years from now, and the answer is almost always something along the lines of, "anywhere but here!"

Much of that can be attributed to the attraction of the urban culture, which is pitched to our young people in megadoses of cable TV, the Internet, rental movies and music. It paints a distorted picture of "how the other half live," often ignoring the consequences of irresponsible behavior and the anonymity of life in a larger community.

That's pretty tough competition for parents, schools, community organizations and youth leaders who are trying to positively influence our young people.

Out-migration is not unique to Cameron County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, between 1995 and 2000, about 150,000 people between the ages of 20 and 34 moved out of rural Pennsylvania.

Interestingly, while many young adults moved out, older adults moved in. During the same five years, Pennsylvania rural counties had an inmigration of 71,538 persons between the ages of "Baby Boomers" born between 1945 and 1964. Almost 20 percent of Cameron County's population is 65 or older, compared to a figure of just over 15 percent statewide.

It all adds up to an accelerated aging of our population, reinforcing the need for our elected officials and community leaders to band together.

We have our work cut out for us. Cameron County was recently in the headlines as having the largest population drop (by percentage) in the state. The county's population as of 2005 was 5,613, down from 5,652 in 2004 and much lower than the last official census in 2000, which set the population at 5,974.

We should do all we can to support efforts to stem the exodus through a more concentrated focus on attracting and building four major industries: powdered metals, wood, oil and gas, and tourism. Polls consistently show that good jobs will keep young from moving away.

The Cameron County Industrial Development Authority has been reaching out to potential employers while making it easy for them to locate here. The organization has a vibrant website that steers prospective employers to a wide variety of information, including sources of job training services, business loans and infrastructure grants.

A regional "Energy Industry Partnership" has formed. Its mission is to develop training programs for prospective employees in the booming oil and gas industries, working with high schools and colleges in Cameron, McKean, Elk, Potter, Clearfield and Jefferson counties.

With more than half of the region state-owned and, thus, off-limits to development, local leaders are counting on an economic boost from tourists, particularly as the state's 12- county "Pennsylvania Wilds" initiative moves forward. A team of county planners, regional economic development and heritage organizations and other stakeholders has been assembled to better capitalize on the economic potential while keeping the region unique and attractive.

Many people are fighting the good fight for Cameron County's future. They deserve our support.