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Home show can be conduit to translate economy into action

About 160 businesses and organizations made their sales pitch at last week’s West Branch Susquehanna Builders Home Show at Lycoming College.

The event unfolded for the 58th year, with the Keiper Recreation Center serving as a nesting ground for builders, bankers, Realtors and others to convince attendees this is the year to do something special.

There are a lot of indications that this is, indeed, the year to do something special.

Most polls show a more positive economic outlook from business leaders and individual homeowners this year.

The stock market has blown past the 20,000 mark on the Dow Jones Industrial Average and interest rates were even raised recently by the Fed due to the consensus of confidence and investment in the nation’s economy.

Local builders of all kinds are doubtlessly hoping that surge in confidence spills over into a willingness by homeowners to go ahead with that fix-up project or dream home construction this year.

The trickle down employment effect and economic churn that occurs with building projects can’t be overstated.

When someone decides to modernize their kitchen, general contractors, plumbers and a host of trades workers in addition to appliance dealers and retail outlets get opportunity.

When someone decides to build a new home, the opportunity is expanded to include excavators and other construction trades.

When they decide to landscape that house and build a patio addition, another set of businesses get an opportunity.

You get the point.

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