Marcellus Shale has the potential to fundamentally transform the Southern Tier as interest in the development of natural gas grows in New York State. To help better prepare local businesses in Tioga County, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tioga County partnered with Tioga County Economic Development and Planning and the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce to host a series of educational webinars from PENNSTATE entitled "Your Business and Marcellus Shale: Voices of Experience".

This series is a follow up to the successful Fall 2009 webinar program, which introduced participants to Marcellus business opportunities. Over 500 local businesses participated in that series at 19 local sites within Pennsylvania and New York.

The "Your Business and Marcellus Shale: Voices of Experience" program consists of four weekly breakfast webinars for small and medium-sized local businesses and entrepreneurs, and is designed to help them understand and take advantage of the business opportunities arising from the Marcellus Shale.

Each session will highlight successful local Pennsylvania businesses who are adapting to the opportunities, and as a way of helping other businesses learn how they can explore and take advantage of these opportunities. Several sessions will have natural gas industry representatives on hand to discuss what theyÕre looking for from local business partners, and how to establish business relationships.

The following provides the session topic for each date: 8 to 9:30 a.m., on Jan. 27: Local Business Success Stories and Lessons Learned I; 8 to 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 3: Working with the Industry: Natural Gas Company Perspectives; 8 to 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 10: Local Business Success Stories and Lessons Learned II; and 8 to 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 17: Partnering; Industry and Local Business Panel.

The webinar series will be held at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tioga County located in the Tioga County office building on 56 Main St. in Owego. Coffee and breakfast items will be available. There is a fee of $5 per session. Those who are interested in the entire series can attend all four at the discounted rate of $15. You can pre-register by phone at (607) 687-4020.