Major employer in the wings

An apparent frontrunner has emerged in the race to occupy the former "Tennis Center" and bring dozens of new jobs to Coudersport. The company, which has not been publicly identified, has more than a quarter-century of experience in handling inbound and outbound customer calls.

Another large employer engaged in a similar business is also positioning itself to open a customer center in Coudersport, if the arrangements can be worked out.

Likely occupant of the Tennis Center is an outsourcer for leading national corporations, handling customer service and sales telephone calls. It specializes in "sales with upsells, customer service, lead generation with surveys, e-mail response and Internet-based call center services."

Coudersport would be the firm's sixth location, joining centers in New York and two other states.

There's no official forecast of how many jobs would be created if county officials can seal the deal with the company, but one of the people involved in the negotiations said it could be "in the hundreds."

To prepare for quick action in the event the employer is landed, the Pa. CareerLink office in Coudersport has been reaching out to the approximately 500 people who lost their jobs on Feb. 5, when Time Warner shut down the Tennis Center and another customer center.

Anyone interested in being considered for employment should register with CareerLink by using the Internet, visiting the office on the Port Allegany Road (Rt. 6 West) in Coudersport, or calling 274-9330.

Of the employees who were terminated in February, 260 were from Potter County, 110 from McKean and 30 from Cameron.

Coudersport's economy took another hit on March 31, when about two dozen people who were still employed with the estate of the bankrupt Adelphia Communications Corp. lost their jobs.

No formal announcement is imminent. The Potter County Redevelopment Authority has been negotiating with Time Warner in its effort to acquire the Tennis Center and lease it to the new employer.