County supports ITEC
By James Moate Endeavor News

A technical training school in Ridgway has helped prepare young people for jobs in the powdered metals and other local industries. However, the Industrial Technological Education Center shut down last year due to declining enrollment and economic issues.

At this week's meeting, the Cameron County Commissioners threw their support behind a plan to resurrect ITEC through a new financing plan.

Commissioner Tony Moscato has taken a strong interest in ITEC as an executive board member of the organization that owns it, the Ridgway-based Northcentral Pa. Regional Planning and Development Commission.

Not any more.

Moscato announced that he had resigned from Northcentral, citing "inaccuracies in the hiring process" and disagreements with the administration. He was quick to add that he strongly supports the mission of both Northcentral and ITEC.

"I still feel it's necessary to make ITEC a vital component

in educating industrial employees)," Moscato said.

He and commissioners Glen Fiebig and Pat Rodgers passed an ordinance allowing refinancing of the ITEC bond issue. Cameron County is responsible for five percent of the indebtedness, or $185,000 of the $3.69 million bond issue. Elk and Jefferson counties will assume the majority of the debt, at 47.5 percent each.

Also at Monday's meeting, the commissioners appointed JoAnn Smith to fill out Moscato's term through 2007. Bill Bogart, local small business consultant, also sits on the board as a private sector representative.

In other business this week, the commissioners:

--approved a $12,000 lowinterest loan for a new business, Aroma Bakery and Cafe, at the former Puffs tobacco outlet on the corner of Fourth and Chestnut streets. Rodgers said the business is expected to open in November. Funds come from the Cameron County Revolving Loan Fund.

--approved a separate $50,000 loan from the same fund for David Burgett to acquire the Emporium Secondaries property along Rt. 120, west of Emporium.