It goes without saying that landowners and gas companies stand to gain in the development of the Marcellus Shale. What was striking to me when I attended the landowner coalition rally last Sunday were the many sponsors from businesses unrelated to the actual drilling process. Several banks, law firms, environmental consulting firms, investment firms and others had booths and employees donating their time to a movement that they hope will produce an economic surge for their communities. In fact, one brochure that I picked up was entitled ‘Planning for Prosperity’. These communities are hoping and planning for the tidal wave of prosperity that the Marcellus Shale will bring.

I’ve been researching and writing about the potential economic growth that will occur when drilling begins. What I saw on Sunday were some of the people who work hard to get by in these rural communities encouraged and hopeful that one day soon drilling will begin and the prosperity they are planning for will actually materialize. A rising tide lifts all boats. All businesses in the Marcellus play stand to gain and are planning for it.

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Jennifer Levine has been invited by The Business Council to be a guest contributing author to the Capital Business Blog to enhance our readers understanding of the Marcellus shale issue and the job creating opportunities that surround it.

Jennifer Levine, recently worked at the New York State Assembly for a member whose district includes five counties in the Marcellus play where she gained exposure to this issue. Previously, she worked in government relations for MCI Communications in Washington, D.C. Jennifer can be reached at jklevine@nycap.rr.com