In no uncertain terms, a positive economic and job creating impact is cascading across the region tied directly to the responsible development of clean-burning American natural gas from the Marcellus Shale.

While the industry is helping to create tens of jobs for thousands for Pennsylvanians, the overwhelmingly majority of jobs being created are not at wellsite, but rather along the robust and growing supply chain that supports, and makes possible, the ability for natural gas producers to, well, safely produce clean-burning American natural gas.

We call this economic phenomenon the “Marcellus Multiplier,” and, as an organization, continue to work to educate the region’s business community about these important opportunities.

In a new Catalyst Connection-commissioned study, the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence analyzes and provides guidance as to how best regional “small businesses and manufacturers” can leverage the Marcellus Shale supply chain into new opportunities and growth.

The study, titled “Understanding the Marcellus Supply Chain,” makes the following recommendations, as the Pittsburgh Business Times reports:

  • Partnering with larger Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers to gain industry experience.
  • Concentrating on health, safety and environmental requirements since natural gas producers are under heavy regulatory scrutiny, which means they look for suppliers with similar health and safety cultures.
  • If applicable get the certifications needed to fit into a larger company’s diversity supplier network.
  • Focus on flexibility and responsiveness since the energy market is 24/7/365 and needs can shift rapidly.
  • Network, since getting a foot in the door many times is based on who you know.

American natural gas is “offering hope in hard times”, and as several economist have recently laid out, shale gas is helping to “bring manufacturing jobs back to U.S.”

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