Ohio Valley

There has been some question on drilling and its ability to create local jobs to rejuvenate the economy.  However, a recent look at Washington County, PA shows us a glimpse of what the future holds.

With the gas industry moving slowly into the Ohio Valley, many are beginning to see thousands of local jobs being creating and millions of dollars spent by drilling companies.  These drilling companies are also opening several offices within the region and businesses throughout the county are seeing an economic windfall.

When the industry first moved into the area in the early 2000’s, jobs were slow to develop.  Since that time, the area has seen an overabundance in job openings.

Washington County Commissioner Larry Maggi says, “People whose children in the 1980′s and 1990′s that had to move away are coming back here for good paying jobs.”

Range Resources is one of the companies hiring local workers. Range Resources has a long history in the region and just recently opened a new headquarters that employs 400 people.

Overall, the impact has been positive and the area looks forward to many more positive moves coming their way within the next couple of years.  Washington County is becoming the “booming” area it was predicted to be.