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April 23, 2004
Rendell Comments on Eco-Tourism
Does Governor Rendell get it? I wonder if it takes someone coming in from outside of our area to actually understand that recreation and tourism is our number one industry tied to the Allegheny National Forest (even though the facts have pointed this out for some time) and that there is tremendous potential for growth. From the Warren Times-Observer (subscription required):
Rendell: ANF untapped opportunity for tourismBy DEAN WELLS Times Observer Staff Writer
Gov. Ed Rendell returned to Warren County on Wednesday to present a $200,000 check to the Northern Alleghenies Vacation Region's new visitor center located on Rt. 6 in Starbrick.
Rendell also discussed the First Industries Fund, part of his recently passed economic stimulus program that will utilize $150 million in loans, grants and guarantees to promote the state's tourism and agriculture industries.
"We have the ability to become the number one (destination) east of the Mississippi in eco-tourism," Rendell said. "We haven't tapped into the incredible opportunity in the Allegheny (National) Forest region."
...
The visitor center, which is scheduled to officially open on Memorial Day, is the largest visitor center currently located on scenic Rt. 6.
"This is a great step, a great step for Warren," Rendell said. "This fits in with our plans. In addition to the natural beauty (as a draw), we need an infrastructure. And that is a visitor center. We need this."
According to Rendell, he is scheduled to return to Warren County in the near future to shoot a television commercial at the Allegheny Reservoir that will promote the region in the Philadelphia area.
"Over 4.7 million people live in the Philadelphia area," Rendell said. "They spend a lot of money to leave the state to see things. For one-tenth of the price, they can see things in their own state. We think the returns can be absolutely phenomenal."
Now we appropriately criticized Rendell for his administration's baseless praise of Collins-Pine's status quo industrial tree farming operations. But this dedication to our leading industry tied to the national forest is a great positive. If you were to join these types of infrastructure projects with our Allegheny Wild! proposal which incorporates an appropriate balance of infrastructure projects and conservation on the Allegheny National Forest you will have created a fundamentally vital service to the future of our local economies.
Posted by jkleissler at April 23, 2004 11:18 AM
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