Forestry School Possible For Smethport Region

	The Forestry School Initiative Committee met with Governor Rendell at the Smethport Visitor Center on July 23. Rendell promise state support for the construction of the Forestry School Initiative. Click photo to enlarge.

A group of Smethport area residents have formed a committee to generate the support needed to locate a regional school of forestry in Smethport.

The individuals, Smethport Mayor Ross Porter, businessman Jack Rosenswie, Route 6 Heritage Committee Chairman, Wayne Pearson, Smethport Area School Board member, Ted Gundlah, and Jay Stoddard have named the group the Project Development Initiative Committee.

They noted the fine points of the initiative at a community meeting held at the Court of Angels in Smethport.

They are currently discussing the benefits of locating the school in Smethport with state officials including DCNR and Penn State University, who will send an assessment team to talk with the local people about the proposal.

It is hoped that the Smethport school will be merged with the Penn Sate branch campus system.The campus is hoped to include a Forestry Education Center, Research and Technical Center, Conference Center, and Youth Forestry Programs.

According to Jack Rosenswie, Smethport is located in the center of a top grade hardwoods region. This makes it an excellent location for a forestry school. Additionally, a strong forest heritage already exists in the Smethport area, as does the Allegheny National Forest.

The Smethport location is also easily aligned with the Pennsylvania Wilds Program and the Lumber Heritage Region of the state, both areas that are experiencing large tourist based growth.

It was noted that the school would serve as the incubator for the growth of new forest based manufacturing jobs.