Potter County businesses cry 'help!'

More than 60 people assembled Tuesday at the Millstream Inn to explore options for stoking Potter County's sliding economy.

After two and one-half hours of sometimes heated dialogue, a course of action emerged. Several tourist-based enterprises are forming a "business advisory council." Its purpose is to promote their cause with local, regional and state agencies.

Tuesday's meeting was conceived by a small gathering of business owners sitting down to explore solutions to their economic woes. By the time it convened, it had evolved into a standing-roomonly brainstorming session for ways to better attract and accommodate tourists.

All three members of the Potter County Board of Commissioners were there, as were three nominees chosen for the board by voters in May. State, regional and local officials were also on hand, as were civic leaders and business owners from throughout Potter County.

Lou Karija, a popcorn vendor and community volunteer, moderated the session.

"It was a good start -- I'm very pleased," Karija said after the meeting. "I think we've gotten the attention of the right people and we can move forward and get things done."

The business advisory council idea was broached by Ron Rohrbaugh, owner of Potato City Country Inn.

"The status quo just isn't acceptable any more," Rohrbaugh said. "There are too many people who have lost hope. We need to turn things around."

About a dozen people agreed to join the council. Karija said a future meeting date and additional details will be announced in the coming weeks.

That group will map out a strategy to assure that elected officials, marketing agencies and civic groups take into account the impact of their activities on small businesses. Early agenda items include a lobbying effort to allow greater all-terrain vehicle and equestrian access to stateowned land.

Gary Buchsen, owner of the Millstream Inn and other businesses, read from a list of closed or for-sale businesses in close proximity to his motel, in an effort to emphasize the depressed tourist trade.

Jim Bruzzi, secondgeneration commercial dry cleaner in Coudersport, said the bankruptcy of Adelphia Communications Corp., which once employed upwards of 2,000 people in Coudersport, makes it imperative that the travel industry be more vibrant.

"My father always said that you don't put all your eggs in one basket and you don't base your business on something that's seasonal," Bruzzi said. "What we really need is more business diversity. Basically, we need jobs, and lot of our economic problems will get a whole lot better if we have those jobs."

Among the specific suggestions made to boost tourism were expanded recreation on state-owned land, encouraging business owners to extend their weekend hours, greater promotion of Potter County's hunting and fishing opportunities, and development of an antique cooperative.

Some of those present expressed appreciation to the state government for investing heavily in state parks, including a new dam at Lyman Run State Park. However, the Pa. Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources also came under fire for restrictions on the use of state-owned land and other regulations.

Mike Wennin, executive director of the Pa. Lumber Heritage Region, suggested that business owners become better informed about ongoing programs and funding sources from the state. The group also heard updates from the Potter County Visitors Association, the Rt. 6 Tourist Association, Potter County Education Council, Pennsylvania Lumber Museum and Smethport Rt. 6 Heritage Committee Chairman Wayne Pearson.

Buchsen responded to those formal presentations by imploring area agencies to do a better job.

"Our businesses are suffering," he said. "We really need changes in the way we promote Potter County."

Larry Hinrichsen, owner of Genesee Natural Foods and the Genesee Environmental Center, commended Karija, Buchsen and the other business representatives who organized Tuesday's session.

"We need to stand on our own feet and not rely on government," Hinrichsen said. "This idea of heritage tourism is fine, but it's everywhere. We've got to do something different. We have to admit what's wrong, hold people accountable, and do something about it."

Smethport's Pearson said the long-range solution may be to approach tourism as an "industry" in every sense of the word, complete with planning, accountability, and businesslike management of the county's inventory/ resources.