Pocono News Section

Economic impact from gas drilling

Economic impact from gas drilling - Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 6:29PM EST

Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 @ 06:29pm EST

Seven oil and gas companies have made way to Bradford County and the whole northern tier.

As they hope to cash in from natural gas drilling, local businesses are starting to see some of the benefits already.

Rooms at the Crystal Springs Motel in Towanda are filling up lately.

It's mostly because of natural gas drilling.

Owner Charles Kinsman says, "It's nice. It's really a good thing. It really helps us. We don't have to worry when it comes bill time."

Oil and gas companies are clearing out land for drilling.

This site is in Asylum Township .

Bradford County commissioners say the drilling companies plan to hire local in the near future.

Pipe layers, truck drivers, and welders will all be needed to build the natural gas boom.

It could create hundreds, even thousands of jobs.

The Central Bradford County Chamber of Commerce says it will also pipeline money into local business.

Administrator Sharon Kaminsky says, "It's an unexpected blessing. The economy, the local businessmen have been a little disappointed with the economy and we are seeing some results with the gas leases coming in."

The oil and gas companies aren't going away anytime soon.

One Bradford County commissioner says an oil company told him it could drill here for 15 to 18 years.

Bradford County leaders realize the payoff potential of natural gas drilling.

In August, all three are going to Texas , to learn how counties there have benefited.

Commissioner Mark Smith says, "It certainly has that potential. The gas companies have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to be here and up in New York state. So i don't think they're going anywhere. They're here and they're going to be here a while."

And as long as they're here, they could keep boosting local business.

More than 3 thousand landowners have leased property to oil and gas companies in Bradford County alone.

Neighboring Susquehanna County has nearly the exact number of leases.