COUDERSPORT (EC) – Directors of the Coudersport Area Chamber of
Commerce discussed the stunning Time Warner Cable announcement at
their meeting on Thursday afternoon.

Board members resolved to step up their efforts to recruit
employers who might be interested in relocating to Coudersport.

Time Warner plans to eliminate roughly 500 jobs on Feb. 5 by
shutting down the Advanced Products Customer Center and the Sales
and Marketing Advanced Retention Team. Another 75 or more
Coudersport jobs will be terminated early next year when the
Adelphia Estate winds down its post-bankruptcy activities.

Less than 24 hours after the Time Warner decision was made
public, a West Virginia-based company contacted the Chamber of
Commerce and the Potter County Redevelopment Authority, inquiring
about the Coudersport area as a possible site for its customer
contact center. The company was not identified.

“That may be a good sign,” said Chamber President Mike Harris,
in acknowledging the contact. “We do have a very strong asset in an
experienced workforce with a proven work ethic.”

By unanimous vote, Chamber Board members agreed to send an open
letter to the affected employees of Time Warner Cable in
Coudersport, explaining they share the employees’ concerns about
the future.

“We are resolved to support you in any way we can,” the letter
reads. “Although some had long speculated that Time Warner would
cease its operations in Coudersport, until this week our public
agencies, community organizations and others affected by the news
had little concrete information on which to base our actions.”

But it took less than a day for community organizations to
spring into action once the news was out.

“Our group and others are reaching out to potential employers,
pointing out to them the many assets the Coudersport community has
to offer,” the letter reads, listing a skilled work force,
incentives for businesses, a high-tech infrastructure and a
reasonable real estate market.

“Our organization has contacted agencies at the county,
regional, state and federal levels to encourage a cooperative
approach that we firmly believe can succeed. Please know that our
130-plus members and affiliates stand firmly behind you,” the
letter concludes, and is signed by the Board of Directors of the
Coudersport Area Chamber of Commerce.