In an effort to enhance the integration of transportation and land use planning with economic development, the North Central Region has developed a Regional Action Plan (RAS). The intention of the RAS is to encourage the exchange of meaningful strategies on how communities can soundly manage growth and development to efficiently and effectively link land use, transportation, and economic development decision-making at a regional level. Above all, the RAS process will foster an essential regional dialogue about investment choices that spans organizations, policies, programs, and jurisdictions and rests on the premise that projects that are linked to strategies intended to increase economic productivity and competitiveness will cause improved regional prosperity. In a sense, the RAS is the North Central Pennsylvania Region’s interpretation of “The Commonwealth’s Keystone Principles for Growth, Investment and Resource Conservation” and will act as the foundation or “filter” for priority recommendations coming from the counties of Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean and Potter.

Who is Involved? The process is being led by ten regional entities throughout the Commonwealth:

The LUTED effort is currently being supported by five State Agencies: The Commonwealth Departments of Community and Economic Development (DCED), Transportation (Penn -DOT), Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Agriculture (PDA), and Environmental Protection (DEP)

Key Regional Strategies or Objectives of the North Central Regional Action Strategy:
1. Priority projects and investments consistent with the Commonwealth’s Keystone Principles for Growth, Investment and Resource Conservation.
2. Developing criteria that will yield significant economic development impact and that are strategically the most important to the region.
3. A process and/or criteria by which regionally significant projects and investments can be determined on a regular basis.
4. Identification of partners and implementing agencies related to each recommendation.
5. Mechanisms, tools, or systems used to promote coordination within programs of land use, transportation, resource conservation, and economic development decisions and investments.
6. A plan for maintaining and updating the Regional Action Strategy plan.
7. Continuing engagement and a process for sustained coordinated planning within the NCPRPDC program structure to maintain and help implement the plan.

Criterion for project prioritization (if developed yet – can be in draft if you would like to share): The draft minimum criteria identified by stakeholders and currently under review to be used in rating, scoring, and prioritizing project include:
Project promotes or strengthens targeted industry clusters
Project creates or retains high-skilled jobs
Project location is consistent with regional development strategies
Project is consistent with local land use regulations
Project improves workforce training, development, and education
Project will attract private investment
Project will maximize return on taxpayer investment
Project promotes the use and diffusion of technology
Project establishes a destination and attracts visitors to the region
Project increases international transactions and supports global competitiveness

Top emerging issues/projects in region:
1. Targeted Investments
2. Core Infrastructure and Economic Centers
3. Education
4. Retain and Expand Existing Business
5. Develop and Market Tourism Assets and Services