Down, but far from out

Mark Twain once said, "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." The same could apply to Coudersport.

Just weeks after Time Warner axed more than 500 employees and shut down two customer service centers, hope springs eternal at the Potter County seat. One employer, offering upwards of 30 jobs, signed on the dotted line this week and others are in the wings.

In April, AP Wagner, a distributor of parts for household appliances, will open a customer center employing between 25 and 30 people in the Farm Services Agency building at the Coudersport Industrial Park.

Meanwhile, other companies -- at least one of which could offer hundreds of jobs -- are eying the two large buildings Time Warner is vacating.

Public officials who are involved in the search for employers are tight-lipped when it comes to specifics. They're walking a fine line between protecting the confidentiality of prospective employers and fueling hope among the jobless.

Many of the unemployed grow more nervous as they drain their severances and live off their state unemployment compensation checks.

Back in the USA

The situation with AP Wagner is unique, in that it involves a company shutting off its foreign customer care operations to return those jobs to the U.S.

"Our decision is based on the quality of the workforce in Coudersport," AP Wagner President Mike Mangan told Radio Station WFRM News Director Gerri Miller. "We see great call center experience and a good work ethic."

Hiring will start as soon as March 1, followed by training that will equip the new employees to be on the floor at the Coudersport customer service center by late April.

AP Wagner began in Buffalo, N.Y., as the Buffalo Washing Machine Repair Company. The business expanded into sales of parts and other appliances. Competitors were acquired and branch offices opened over the next three decades. The popularity of the Internet allowed AP Wagner to expand its reach even further.

Today, the company is the largest multinational distributor of appliance parts and accessories in the Northeast. AP Wagner services a growing network of appliance dealers, service technicians and do-it yourselfers. Corporate offices are located in Depew, N.Y., with 18 branch locations distributed in the U.S. and Canada.

AP Wagner houses one of the most extensive inventories in the business, representing major manufacturers such as Maytag, Whirlpool, Frigidaire and GE.

Local workers coveted

The customer service experience that local workers gained while working for Adelphia and Time Warner has made them attractive to employers who are looking into relocating, according to Doug Morley, chairman of the Potter County Redevelopment Authority.

"Once the news about Time Warner broke, we had companies calling us," Morley told the Coudersport Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday. "It has evolved to a situation where we are asking, 'What can you do for us?' There is a broad spectrum of companies interested in moving here -- everything from the AP Wagners with 30 jobs to companies that could absorb as many as 500 people."

He added that these companies pay competitive wages, in recognition of employees' special skills.

"It's a trend known as rural outsourcing," Morley said. "Companies are looking to come back to the U.S. from foreign countries. They're learning that, with a highquality product, they really need to also have high-quality customer service in order to remain competitive."

Fate of buildings One of the firms that has been studying Coudersport for a customer care center is an outsourcer for at least two of the major cable television companies in the U.S.

Morley said he would like to see several employers come to town, rather than one or two larger companies on which the local economy might become dependent.

Lastly, he confirmed that county officials are engaged in talks with Time Warner to bring the Advanced Product Customer Center (formerly the "Tennis Center") and the former Coudersport Elementary School on North Main Street under public ownership.

Status of the massive Adelphia Operations Center on South Main Street remains uncertain, as that company winds down its activities after emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this month.