Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23)
Economic development is truly the process by which communities are transformed. Nowhere is this more evident than in Williamsport’s Lumber Yards project, set to host its first tournament this coming weekend. The facility features six lighted synthetic turf fields for youth baseball and girls’ and women’s softball, a convertible collegiate-size field, concessions and a hospitality hub.
The story of the Lumber Yards begins with the acquisition of the former Susquehanna Supply site, a neglected brownfield that the Lycoming County Visitors Bureau and the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce set out to reinvent as a premier regional baseball and softball complex. Drawing on Williamsport’s rich heritage as the home of Little League Baseball and leveraging its reputation to attract thousands of visitors each year, they stepped up to turn vision into action.
The Lumber Yards are projected to host 79 tournament event days per year, attracting nearly 175,000 out-of-town visitors and generating over 40,000 hotel stays annually. Over the next two decades, tournament visitor spending is expected to exceed $400 million. The city, county and school district will receive a combined net benefit of $5.4 million, while the commonwealth stands to gain nearly $26 million.
Beyond the numbers, the project will create new jobs, support local businesses and generate new opportunities for residents and visitors alike. Situated adjacent to the Pennsylvania College of Technology and easily accessible via Interstate 180 and Route 220, the Lumber Yards are in an ideal place to build upon both Williamsport’s legacy and its location.
None of this would be possible without the vision and leadership of the Visitors Bureau and the Chamber. From commissioning market studies to securing public and private funding, they’ve exemplified what it means to be a champion for economic development. Their commitment to collaboration and strategic planning has brought the Lumber Yards project to the brink of reality, demonstrating how local institutions can drive transformative change.
The Lumber Yards project offers a textbook study in Economic Development 101: leverage local assets, revitalize underutilized land, foster partnerships, invest for impact and champion vision. I congratulate all the local partners for their foresight, tenacity and commitment.
As Williamsport prepares to welcome new visitors, the Lumber Yards are proof that targeted investment and collaboration can deliver measurable benefits for a community. It’s a win for Lycoming County and a blueprint for economic development that would serve other communities well to study.
Sen. Gene Yaw was elected to represent the 23rd Senatorial District consisting of Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga and Union counties.
CONTACT:
Elizabeth Weitzel
717-787-3280