Community Revitalization

North Central supports community revitalization efforts by providing project management and grantmanship services to municipalities, liaising between federal and state agencies and local governments to capitalize on funding programs and other resources, and assisting Main Street and Elm Street Programs.

For more information on the support for community revitalization projects, contact Matt Marusiak.

North Central Greenways and Open Space Plan

This project involves the development of a county greenways and open space network plans for Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, and Potter counties, and a regional greenways and open space network plan for the North Central Pennsylvania region.

North Central is administering the project, and is  guided by a study committee that includes county planners, state agencies, and other designated groups or organizations having  land use/ownership, and economic/tourism responsibilities, or interests in greenways and open space.

A greenway is a corridor of open space. Greenways vary greatly in scale, from narrow ribbons of green that run through urban, suburban, and rural areas to wider corridors that incorporate diverse natural, cultural and scenic features. They may follow old railways, canals, or ridge tops, or they may follow stream corridors, shorelines, or wetlands, and include water trails.

Some greenways are for recreation and transportation activities and may accommodate motorized and non-motorized uses on land and water. Other greenways conserve natural infrastructure for the benefit of community, economy, and environment and are not designed for human passage.

Greenways will not take away the rights of property owners, nor will it restrict development in the region. Instead, the greenway network will promote sustainable development, reduce development costs, and reduce the burden of providing public services on local, county, and state governments.

For more information on the Greenways project, contact Matt Marusiak.

Headwaters Resource Conservation and Development Council

The Resource Conservation and Development Program (RC&D) is a voluntary program that helps people protect and develop their economic, natural, and social resources. Program objectives address improving the quality of life, including social, economic, and environmental concerns; continuing prudent use of natural resources; and strengthening local citizens’ ability to use available sources of assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other Federal agency partnerships. The program is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in cooperation with other USDA agencies.

The Headwaters RC&D Council is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that works to improve quality of life through natural resource conservation projects that result in community improvement, rural economic stability and environmental enhancement in the north central Pennsylvania region.

The Headwaters RC&D Council area covers Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, and Potter Counties. Each of the eight Counties within the Headwaters RC&D area is represented on the council by appointees from the County Conservation District, County Commissioners, and County Planning Departments. North Central is also represented on the council.

The Headwaters RC&D is an important partner of North Central for implementing projects for water resources, agriculture, forestry, and greenways.

You can find more information on the Headwaters RC&D at http://www.headwaterspa.org.

Pennsylvania WILDS

The Pennsylvania WILDS is an economic and community development initiative that encompasses 12 counties in North Central Pennsylvania and is grounded in wise natural and cultural stewardship. It is intended to use the region’s natural assets, and the opportunities for tourism they present, as a way to revitalize local economies and communities, and improve quality of life for residents. While, Pennsylvania WILDS has received tremendous support from the state, it remains a grass roots effort being undertaken by numerous local and regional organizations, which are all committed to improving the regional economy, while preserving a way of life and the natural, cultural and community assets that make this region special and unique.

The initiative began in 2001, when the Lumber Heritage Region funded the Elk Watching and Nature Tourism study  in partnership with North Central PA Regional Planning and Development Commission, DCNR , Appalachian Regional Commission and the PA Game Commission . The study revealed the tremendous potential of the area, not only for elk-based tourism, but for a wide variety of outdoor recreation experiences being sought out by today’s traveler.

In 2004, county leaders identified the need to support local officials and communities with planning assistance and infrastructure improvements so increased visitation to the region would not negatively impact the natural beauty of the region and the rural character of its local communities. To address this planning and technical assistance need, the Pennsylvania WILDS Planning Team was established with grant funding from PA DCNR, Appalachian Regional Commission, and DCED and through the leadership of the 12 counties as part of an Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement. The Team also includes representatives from the Lumber and PA Route 6 Heritage Corporation heritage regions, regional economic and community development organizations including North Central, local government, state and federal agencies and tourist promotion bureau.

You can find more information on the Pennsylvania WILDS at the PA Wilds Resource Center http://www.pawildsresources.org.

PLANNING RESPONSIBILITIES

Transportation

The North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission (North Central) is one of seven Local Development District's designated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a Rural Planning Organization (RPO). The RPO provides a forum where state, regional and local decision-makers identify issues/opportunities, conduct studies and make informed recommendations regarding the programming and implementation of transportation projects.

 The RPO prioritizes, updates and adopts a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and a Regional Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).

The RPO assists PennDOT District Offices in advancing projects through needs studies and environmental activities such as "Linking Planning and NEPA".

The RPO initiates activities to satisfy federal and statewide transportation planning and programming mandates, including a proactive public involvement strategy.

For more information please visit the Transportation website.

Appalachian Region Commission (ARC)

The Appalachian Regional Commission is a funding program that assists public and public non-profit organizations with funding for community and economic development. Projects that can be funded include planning, economic studies, education, health care, alternative energy, and infrastructure primarily related to economic development. Examples of such projects are water and sewer system improvements, industrial parks, multi-tenant buildings, and industrial access roads.

The Appalachian Region

Appalachia, as defined in the legislation from which the Appalachian Regional Commission derives its authority, is a 205,000-square-mile region that follows the spine of the Appalachian Mountains from southern New York to northern Mississippi. It includes all of West Virginia and parts of 12 other states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

About 24.8 million people live in the 420 counties of the Appalachian Region; 42 percent of the Region's population is rural, compared with 20 percent of the national population. The Region's economic fortunes were based in the past mostly on extraction of natural resources and manufacturing. The modern economy of the Region is gradually diversifying, with a heavier emphasis on services and widespread development of tourism, especially in more remote areas where there is no other viable industry. Coal remains an important resource, but it is not a major provider of jobs. Manufacturing is still an economic mainstay but is no longer concentrated in a few major industries.

Economic Development Administration (EDA)

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Advisory Committee

The North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Committee is an advisory group to the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission Board of Directors.  The Committee is comprised of 27 official members (counties that include a city are permitted to nominate four members, all other counties are permitted three members) and other “ex-officio” members that are interested in participating.  The CEDS Committee acts as a forum for the discussion of regional economic development issues in the six counties served by the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission:  Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean and Potter.  The county commissioners of each of the six member counties appoint members for a two-year term.  CEDS Committee members discuss economic issues, receive training information, participate in state and federal funding program workshops, and prioritize projects that wish to seek funding by submitting an application to the United States Economic Development Administration.  Committee members are generally the key economic development professionals within their counties.

Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP)

The Local Technical Assistance Program is designed to help Pennsylvania municipalities make the best use of their maintenance dollars. LTAP provides technical information and proven technologies dealing with roadway maintenance and safety methods to meet the growing needs of municipal governments

Form more information regarding the North Central LTAP Program, please visit: LTAP.

Geographical Information System (GIS)

GIS is an enabling technology that integrates common database operations such as query and statistical analysis with the unique visualization and geographic analysis benefits offered by maps. These abilities distinguish GIS from other information or database systems and make it valuable to a wide range of county departments for explaining events, predicting outcomes, and planning strategies. The use of GIS gives the Region the ability to create maps, integrate diverse information, visualize scenarios, assess concentrations or gaps in services and opportunities, and address many of the issues associated with managing a regional organization, by developing effective solutions like never before.

For more information regarding the North Central GIS Program, please visit: GIS Website.