It is rare to see a Lycoming County Board of Commissioners Meeting that was as excited and joyous as the one on Thursday, June 5th. If a county government were a family, this meeting would be like opening the presents on Christmas Day. I knew something pretty big was about to happen when I watched Pennsylvania State Senator Gene Yaw, State Representative Joe Hamm, Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce CEO Jason Fink, and other notables quickly filling up every seat in the county meeting room. Commissioner Mark Mussina had a very important commitment and was not in attendance, but Commissioners Scott Metzger and Marc Sortman took their seats with smiles that went from ear to ear.

There was no drum roll, but it would have been appropriate. All the excitement was over the official announcement of the Bass Pro Shops opening an Outpost store in the former Lycoming Mall property in Muncy Township. At first, I was a bit taken aback, given that I am not an outdoors kind of guy and thus could not appreciate why this was such a big deal. But the buzz in the room was unmistakable because those who knew about Bass Pro Shops were not just happy; they were exhilarated.

It starts with the fact that Bass Pro Shops are not just regular shops; they are legendary shops. They offer outdoor hunting and fishing gear, but that is just for starters. This year, Newsweek ranked Bass Pro Shops as the most trusted U.S. hunting and fishing gear retailer. Now get this: not one of the most trusted, but THE most trusted. Their reputation for customer service and the overall experience is not just because of the products they offer but the overall experience of the stores.

Bass Pro Shops have truly remarkable in-store environments such as unique and engaging designs, often featuring aquariums, wildlife exhibits, and themed areas. Imagine a museum/zoo that is also a store. Their 160 stores around the country are each unique; no two stores are alike. The company makes each location designed to reflect the character of the surrounding region.

This fits perfectly with the overall strategy that the county has been seeking for years and years. The idea was to build on the potential of encouraging outdoor enthusiasts to recognize our area as a gateway to the Pennsylvania Wilds. A Bass Pro Shop right off a state highway in our region could not be more perfect for this initiative.

But, the hype was not just for drawing tourists, but also how this new store will make a tremendous impact on the local community as well. When the store opens in 2027, it will be hiring some 150 people. Given that Forbes considers Bass Pro Shops as one of America’s Best Employers, it should make these 150 store workers very happy. Bass Pro Shops has been ranked ahead of companies such as Google, Disney, Lowe’s, Target, and Amazon, among others.

This is definitely not a typical company. Newsweek recognized Bass Pro Shops with “America’s Best-In-State Customer Service” Award. Forbes named Bass Pro Shops as one of “America’s Most Reputable Companies” in recognition of the public’s trust in the organization.

Senator Yaw believes this will undoubtedly strengthen the local economy and be a driving force for tourism and recreation in our region. Representative Hamm believes it will have a generational impact on our area. Representative Flick sees this as a significant step forward for economic development and community revitalization in our area.

Yes, two years might seem like a long wait, but two decades from now, we may look back and realize that this was the beginning of the Lycoming County renewal that created a renaissance for our area. Instead of just a two-week International Little League event, we could be seeing an expansion in many areas of recreation and tourism that could be year-round. This would entice more industries to consider locating here by the quality of life. And that would bring about increased families that would not just stay here but draw others to move here.

Hats off to all those who have engaged in making this happen. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Robert Kennedy: “Some see things as they are and ask why; I dream things that never were and ask, why not?”