The president of Lock Haven University said Friday that his
university may be interested in establishing some type of academic
facility in Coudersport.
Dr. Keith Miller did not use the term “branch campus,” but he
said the university was exploring the possibility of locating
academic facilities in Potter County.
“It’s premature to talk about details,” because the plans are
only in the discussion stage, said Miller.
“We have a good number of alumni in the Northern Tier area, and
it’s just a matter of exploring what possibilities there are up
there.”
Miller said he has already toured one of the former Adelphia
buildings recently vacated by Time Warner – the former Adelphia
headquarters building – and said he thinks it might be a fit with
his university’s plans.
Enough of a fit to pursue discussions further.
“We’re coming up just to talk to people in the community who are
involved … to see how we can be helpful perhaps,” said Miller.
“We’re going to come up there with an open mind and see where the
discussion takes us.”
Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway,
has been working with other legislators from the region to find new
businesses to locate in Coudersport to help the community rebound
from the loss of over 500 jobs at Time Warner earlier this
year.
Representatives from Lock Haven University are scheduled to meet
with Scarnati June 1 in Brockway to discuss the possibility of
establishing an academic facility in Coudersport.
A spokesman for Scarnati said Friday, “We need to use every
resource available to curb the job loss in Potter County, and if
Lock Haven University is able to help us do that, we’re certainly
willing to discuss it with them.”
Tom Bowman, aide to U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, said, “I’ve been
working with (Lock Haven) a long time on this.”
Bowman said a university facility in Coudersport would mean
“money into the economy.”
“It’s jobs, it’s students coming into the area and spending
their money, it’s housing for students that could fill up some of
our vacant apartments,” he said.
The only catch is the building Lock Haven is interested in
developing is the same building the Potter County Commissioners
claimed earlier this week as their own.
The commissioners do not have title to the building, but they
said Time Warner is willing to donate it to them and that it would
make a perfect courthouse annex.
Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, said the commissioners’
announcement was “short-sighted.”
Causer said, “I still think we should be looking to get a job
creator in there and keeping that building on the tax rolls, but
the commissioners have been firm in stating they’re taking the
building … quite frankly, we disagree.”
Previously, two of the three commissioners said they would
abandon plans to turn the building into an annex if there was a
company willing to move into it.
The commissioners were unavailable for comment Friday
afternoon.
Lock Haven’s president Miller said, “We’re delighted to have the
conversation, and if things work out well … all the better for
everyone.”
