Growth, Investment and New Direction: Clinton County Economic Partnership holds annual meeting, elects officers for new year
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LOCK HAVEN -- The Clinton County Economic Partnership (CCEP) reflected on a year of significant accomplishments and organizational growth during its Annual Membership Meeting, highlighting new economic development, increased member engagement, expanded tourism initiatives and a strengthened staff team.
The Annual Meeting featured remarks from Brandon Carter, the new Lock Haven City Manager, who was the evening's guest speaker. CCEP members also voted to re-elect Dave Harger, Susie Peters, Bill Garbrick, Dr. Stephen Lee and Kyle Stewart to continue serving on CCEP's Operating Board.
A Major Economic
Development Milestone
One of the year's most significant economic development accomplishments was the sale of the former Storey Building, a 50,000-square-foot facility purchased by Anesidora Enterprises, LLC. The building will become the company's new lab testing location as part of its hybrid smelting and mineral processing operation. The company expects the facility to eventually bring 30 to 40 new jobs to the local area.
The sale represents an important step in returning a major commercial property to productive use while creating new opportunities for employment and investment in Clinton County.
"Seeing the former Storey Building sold and moving toward a new use is a major accomplishment for our community," said Louie Anastos, President & CEO of CCEP. "I would like to thank Dave Harger and Jim Russo for all their hard work in making the sale of the Storey Building possible."
Additional economic development efforts during the past year included a $200,000 grant awarded to EMS, continued partnerships with Keystone Central School District and a land development analysis conducted by PPL and BusinessPA to help identify opportunities for future industrial development. CCEP also continues to market remaining lots in the Lamar Township Business Park.
Strengthening Business
and Member Connections
CCEP continued to build stronger relationships with local businesses and organizations throughout the past year, resulting in continued membership growth and increased engagement from the business community. The Partnership welcomed new members, reconnected with existing members and worked to create more opportunities for businesses to connect with one another and with CCEP.
Time Out networking events, ribbon cuttings, business visits and other CCEP activities provided opportunities for members to build relationships, learn more about fellow businesses and showcase what they have to offer. These events also helped strengthen CCEP's connection with the broader community and encouraged greater participation in Partnership activities.
Moving forward, CCEP is committed to making membership more valuable by listening to the needs of its members and creating opportunities that help businesses connect, grow and succeed. From meaningful networking and educational opportunities to advocacy and community engagement, the Partnership wants members to see a clear return on their involvement and know that CCEP is working on their behalf.
A New Structure for
CCEP Events in 2027
With member engagement being a key focus, CCEP is restructuring its annual event schedule beginning in 2027 to better serve its members and provide more consistent opportunities for networking and engagement.
The Annual Dinner will move to April, while the Annual Picnic will move to September. The Holiday Party will remain on the first Wednesday in December.
CCEP is also exploring ways to revamp its Time Out networking events, with the goal of incorporating more beneficial networking opportunities along with educational workshops and resources that provide additional value to members.
"These changes are about making sure our events continue to meet the needs of our members," said Anastos. "We want people to walk away from CCEP events with new connections, useful information and opportunities that can help their businesses and organizations."
Investing in Leadership and the Next Generation
Leadership Clinton County completed another successful year with 13 participants graduating in May 2026 after sessions covering public speaking, local history, health and human services, media, local government, law enforcement, economic development and education. Interest in the program remains strong, with 16 participants selected for the 2026-27 program.
CCEP also moved Youth Leadership Clinton County from the planning stage toward implementation, developing a curriculum with the Keystone Central Foundation and preparing to launch the program with students from Central Mountain and Bucktail. The initiative has received financial support from several community partners.
The Partnership also continued overseeing the Enterprise Zone revolving loan portfolio and evaluating ways to ensure the program can respond to future business financing opportunities.
Expanding Clinton
County Tourism
Clinton County Tourism continued its evolution from destination marketing toward broader destination development, connecting outdoor recreation, businesses, events and community assets to strengthen the overall visitor experience.
Among the year's major accomplishments was securing an $80,000 award through a partnership between CCEP and the City of Lock Haven for development of an 18-hole disc golf course at Peddie Park.
Tourism also supported projects including the Bald Eagle Valley Trail, the Fish and Paddle Passage project and county comprehensive and greenway planning.
The Clinton County Visitors Bureau helped bring Grinduro Pennsylvania to Clinton County for the first time. The event attracted 317 registered participants from 20 states and Washington, D.C., including 180 riders from outside Pennsylvania, introducing new visitors to the county and creating opportunities for local lodging, dining and retail businesses.
Explore Clinton County is continuing its annual Clinton County Landmarks Puzzle Series, using local photography to showcase the county's historic landmarks and encourage residents and visitors to learn more about the places that make Clinton County unique. The fourth edition features the historic Clinton County Courthouse in downtown Lock Haven. The 550-piece puzzle provides a unique keepsake for visitors while extending the reach of Clinton County's tourism story beyond traditional marketing and encouraging people to explore the community's history, attractions and landscapes.
CCEP also launched a new content creator program designed to bring creators to Clinton County throughout the year to experience and showcase the area's dining, lodging, shopping, outdoor recreation and other attractions. By inviting creators to explore the county firsthand and share their experiences with their audiences, the program is helping introduce Clinton County to new visitors and highlight the businesses, destinations and experiences that make the community unique.
A Stronger CCEP Team
The Partnership also enters the coming year with a strengthened staff structure and renewed focus on serving Clinton County businesses and the community.
Louie Anastos became President & CEO in April 2026. Megan Wheeler has been in her new role as Chamber/Leadership/EZ Director for one year, while Melissa Dally marks one year as Tourism Director. Lisa Schropp joined the team as Operations Coordinator in July 2026.
The strengthened team brings together economic development, chamber services, leadership programming, tourism and operational support under a more coordinated approach.
As CCEP begins a new year, the Partnership is focused on building on these accomplishments, strengthening its relationships with members and community partners and creating new opportunities for economic and community growth throughout Clinton County.
"We have a good team and I'm excited for the direction the Partnership is going," Anastos said. "There is a lot of potential in Clinton County and we're excited to keep working together to move our community forward."