Special Thanks to our CEDS Commiee Cameron County Clearfield County Elk County Jeerson County McKean County Poer County CliClark CameronCounty IDA Don Stretch ReedEmporium Borough TinaJohnsSolak Chamberof Commerce ValerieShelley LumberHeritage RegionofPA StanLaFuria Moshannon ValleyEconomic RobSwales ClearfieldCounty EDC JodiBrennen CountyPlanning JohnWright Curwensville CountyIDA JoeMitchell CityofDuBois Redevelopment Authority MaQuesenberry CountyPlanning TinaGradizziCity ofstmarys MichelleBogacki RidgwayMain Street JodiFoster Community Economic DavidGreene CityofStMarys SethKerr Departmentof BradLashinsky Departmentof BruceMiller Prochemtech MichaelMumau (PrivateCizen) ErinVassallo KaneArea Chamberof Commerce RobertVelleux PoerCountyEd Council SaraAndrews BradfordOECD DeborahLunden McKeanCounty Planning JoeDeMo McKeanCounty JoePagano PoerCounty Housingand Redevelopment DouglasMorley County Vacant CharloeDietrich CountyPlanning Execuve Summary ExOcio Members DeborahPontzer CongressmanThompson soce JillThompson RepresentaveKathyRapp s Oce HonorableMaGabler TheHonorableMarn Causer Katharine Kae Newcombe Governor saconteam TomFrungillo,Bradford RegionalAirport MarkAdams SenatorScarna soce North Central Execuve Commiee Cameron County Clearfield County Elk County Jeerson County McKean County Poer County JamesThomas County WilliamBogart SmallBusiness Consultant MarkMcCracken County JohnShimko Penelec DanFreeburg County SamMacDonald ElkRegional HealthCenter JuneSorg County JeeryPisarcik County LarryConrad Brookville EquipmentCorp. JosephDeMo County RobertEsch American RefiningGroup DouglasMorely County Vacant MoredetailedinformaonontheCEDScanbefoundbyvisingtheNorthCentralPACommission swebsiteat www.ncentral.com.
Comprehensive Economic Strategy (CEDS) 5year Plan Why Develop a CEDS Document? ThePublicWorksandEconomicActof1965,asamended,requiresaComprehensiveEconomic Strategy(CEDS)inordertoapplyforfinancialassistanceundertheU.S.DepartmentofCommerce seconomic Administraon(EDA)PublicWorksandEconomicAdjustmentAssistancePrograms.TheCEDSarecommonlydevelopedby PlanningOrganizaonsandDistrictOrganizaons(termsdefinedinEDA sregulaons)thatfunconwithintheboundariesof anedadesignatedeconomicdistrict(eddpper13crfpart33.6(a)federalregulaons). TheCEDSPlanningProcessfortheNorthCentralPennsylvaniaregionistheresponsibilityoftheNorthCentralPennsylvania RegionalPlanningandCommissionorNorthCentral.Theplanningprocess,includingengagingaregionalCEDS commiee,isintendedtobringpublicandprivatesectorstogethertoprovideabaselineofinformaon,setforthgoalsand establishtargetedstrategiesandperformancemeasuresfordocumenngsuccessfuleconomicandcommunitydevelopment. Thisintegraonofcoordinatedeconomicdevelopmentalsoprovidesforthesharingoftalentandresourcesandprovidesthe flexibilitytoadapttoregionaleconomiccondions. TheCEDSisdesignedtoencouragetheexchangeofmeaningfulstrategiesonhowcommuniescansoundlymanagegrowth anddevelopmenttoecientlyandeecvelylinklanduse,transportaon,andeconomicdecisionmakingata regional level.pursuant to 13 C.F.R. 303.7, a Planning Organizaon must include the following informaon in a CEDS submiedtoeda: 1. Background Adiscussionoftheeconomy,populaon,geography,workforcedevelopment,transportaonaccess, resources,environment,andotherpernentinformaon 2. Analysis of Economic Problems and Opportunies An analysis of the economic development problemsandopportuniesthatidenfiesstrengthsandweaknessesintheregionalmakeup 3. CEDSGoalsandObjecvesDefiningRegionalExpectaons Aseconsengforthgoalsandobjecvesnecessary tosolvetheeconomicproblems,orcapitalizeontheresources,oftheregion 4. CommunityandPrivateSectorParcipaon Adiscussionontherelaonshipbetweenthecommunityingeneral andtheprivatesectorinthedevelopmentandimplementaonoftheceds 5. Strategic Projects, Programs and Acvies A secon that idenfies regional projects, programs and acvies designedtoimplementthegoalsandobjecvesoftheceds 6. APlanofAcon 7. PerformanceMeasures Recent & Projected Investments Completed Projects Key Sponsor Public/Private Total Est. Cost BenezeeTownshipSewerProject BenezeeTownship Public $2,715,000 BradfordRegionalAirportMulTenantCenter BradfordAirport Public/Private $3,250,000 ElkRegionalHealthSystem3 rd Floor ElkRegionalHealth Public $9,549,989 Future Projects Key Sponsor Public/Private Total Est. Cost PortAlleganyFloodManagement PortAlleganyBorough Public $500,000 CharlesColeMemorialHospitalAltFuel CharlesColeMemorialHospital Private $2,700,000 CurwensvilleMunicipalAuthoritySewer CurwensvilleMunicipalAuthority Public $752,000 BoroughofSykesvilleWaterlineRelocaon JeersonCounty Public $250,000 LewisRunIndustrialParkAccessRoad LewisRunBorough Public $300,000 JeersonCountyBusinessPark JeersonCounty Public $1,072,530 KaneMagnecMulTenantBuilding McKeanCounty Public/Private $2,000,000 * Addional Projects will be added as they surface Measuring Progress Performance Measures Measure Baseline (2012) 2015 Change (20122020) TotalPopulaon 224,780 TotalPrivateSectorInvestment $5,000,000 PerCapitaIncome $20,751 AnnualRegionalUnemploymentRate 8.3% MedianAge 42.8years $InfrastructureInvestment $45million JobsCreated 4,074 JobsRetained 111,214 MedianHomeValue $79,717 JobGrowthbySector 3.7% 4YearCohortHighSchoolGraduaonRate 88.85% %ofhousingunitsthatareowneroccupied 59.1% AverageAgeoftheRegion sworkforce 44.8 Realpropertytax(PropertyValue) $3,148,719,289 CivilianLaborForce 116,100 InternaonalExportSales(Annual) $52,800,307 Source: US Census and EMSI data 2 11
Comprehensive Economic Strategy (CEDS) 5year Plan Background/Overview A Plan of Acon DefiningTransportaonEventsSince2007 The Comprehensive Economic Strategy is concerned with targeng investments of regional significance.it is necessary to coordinate planning among counes, stakeholders, or programs to achieve regional benefit regardless of the locaon. Thefundamentalapproachthatformsthebasisforimplemenngtheplanshouldbeginbyidenfyingthefollowing: 10 2 Whataretheprojecttypesdesired(bythestakeholders)? Whereshouldtheybelocated,and Whyshouldtheybecompleted(thepurposeandneed)? Investmentcriteriawillbeusedtoevaluateandselectprojectsofmajorsignificance.Thecriteriareflectthegoals,values,and direconofstakeholders.theminimumcriteriaidenfiedbystakeholderstobeusedinrang,scoring,andpriorizingprojects include: Projectpromotesorstrengthenstargetedindustryclusters Projectcreatesorretainshighskilledjobs Projectlocaonisconsistentwithregionaldevelopmentstrategies Projectisconsistentwithlocallanduseregulaons Projectimprovesworkforcetraining,development,andeducaon Projectwillaractprivateinvestment Projectwillmaximizereturnontaxpayerinvestment Projectpromotestheuseanddiusionoftechnology Projectestablishesadesnaonandaractsvisitorstotheregion Projectincreasesinternaonaltransaconsandsupportsglobalcompeveness A Regional Background The North Central PA Regional Planning and Commission headquartered in Ridgway, Pennsylvania takes greateortstopromotetheareainordertofostercommunity andeconomicdevelopmentwithinthecommonwealth. The sixcounty region includes the counes of: Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jeerson, McKean, and Poer. These counes are rich in industrial sites, are well known for the quality of their workforce, and provide excellent opportunies for businessestorelocateorexpandtheircurrentoperaonshere. North Central works cooperavely with each community to streamline state, federal and regional services, including community and economic development, workforce and transportaon planning. Funding support is available for community infrastructure projects, business startup and expansion financing, exporng, government procurement, redevelopment, customized job training, business expansion, exporng, government procurement and redevelopment. Our vast network of partners work together to take maximum advantageofthenumerousopportuniesthatexist,inorderto benefiteveryone. Geography & Land Use Located in the heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds in North Central Pennsylvania, the six county region is comprised of 2 5,091squaremilesandencompassessomeofPennsylvania's mostpreservedandscenicterrain. The region, which is situated in between Allegany and Caaraugus Counes of New York in the north and Interstate 80 in the south and is within 250 miles of Harrisburg,Philadelphia,Harrisburg,Bualo,NewYorkCity, Balmore,WashingtonandCleveland. The primary transportaon arteries that link our region to theseciesareinterstate80runningeasttowestalongthe southernpartoftheregionandu.s.route219,whichruns northtosouththroughthemiddleoftheregion.u.s.route 6inPennsylvania,whichwasnamedbyNaonalGeographic as one of America s most scenic drives, links communies neartheregion snorthernborder. Theregionishometomorethan1.3millionacresofpublic forestland, including almost half of the 513,000 acre Allegheny Naonal Forest, the Commonwealth s only naonalpark.theregionalsoclaims29stateparksonmore than 27,600 acres and 8 state forest districts. These resources provide local residents direct access to some of the best outdoor recreaon in the world, as well as opportuniestocapitalizeonrecreaonaltourism. 3
Comprehensive Economic Strategy (CEDS) 5year Plan Transportaon Background/Overview Regional DefiningTransportaonEventsSince2007 Network at a Glance 4 Theregionhasanexpansivenetworkof6,500milesof roadwaytobeoperatedandmaintained.overhalfofthis total(55percent)islocallyowned. Therehasbeenareboundofinterestinpublic transportaon,asrouterestructuringandotherservice improvementshavecontributedtoridershipincreasesat bothataanddufast. Ourregion sairportshavebeensuccessfulinaracng businessesaermakinginvestmentsinsupporng Infrastructure. Theregion srailfreightoperatorsconnuetocarry lowvalue,highbulkitemsforregionalshippersand receiverssuchascoal,lumber,andparan.new transloadfacilieshavebeenconstructedinsupportofthe MarcellusShaleGasextraconindustry. Despitetheeconomicchallenges,residentshaveaposive orneutraloutlooktowardthefuture.threeoutoffour residentsrespondedthatinfiveyearstheybelievethe region seconomywilleithergroworremainunchanged. Theregion stwocommercialserviceairports(duboisand Bradford)hadacombinedtotalemploymentof400witha totaleconomicoutputof$43.78millionintothe economy. Theplanningregionisover5,100squaremilesor roughlythesizeofthestateofconneccutas shownabove Our Most Compeve Industries Our Region s Blueprint Theblueprintforaddressingourregion seconomybeginswithavisionstatementwhichincludessuppornggoalsandobjecves. Performancemeasureswillbeusedtotrackourprogress.n, while preserving the character and livability of our communies. Goal Government Cooperaon & Coordinaon Community, Economic & Business Transportaon Infrastructure, Technology and Broadband Workforce & Educaon Natural Resources Housing Tourism & Recreaon Sample Objecves PromoteRegionalPlanning ReduceCostofGovernmentandConserveFiscalResources PromoteEducaonalandAwarenessofRegionalPlanning StrategiesamongbothElectedandappointedocials,private sectorandthepublic EnhanceandpromoteCommunity Expandemploymentanddiversityoftheregion seconomic base Improvecoordinaonbetweentheregion seconomicdevelop ment,workforcedevelopmentandbusinesscommunity ImproveGlobalTradeandInternaonalcompevenessof targetindustryclusters,emergingindustries&entrepreneurs PromoteuseofNaturalGasasanenergysourceforindustry Marketaccesstocapitalimprovementsfinancingthroughthe EDA/RLF Providebusinessstartupandexpansionplanningservicesto coordinateindustrialdevelopment Promoteuseofexisngindustrialparklocaons ImproveMobilityoftheResidents,employees&visitorsinto andthroughouttheregion Improveexisng assetcondions throughouttheregion ImproveExisngWater,Sewer,PublicUlies&Technology/ Broadband Promotetheuseanddiusionoftechnologyintheregion RecognizetheNorthCentralWIBandTitle1Workforce ProvidersastheClearinghouseforLaborMarketinformaon BuildStrategicalliancewiththeeducaonalsystem IncreasethenumberofentrepreneursintheRegion Coordinaonofworkforcedevelopmenttrainingprograms withnewemploymentopportunies Balancetheregion sscenicvistasthroughthedesignaonof scenicbyways/overlooksaspartofdesignandconstrucon Balancetheregion swatershedsandnaturalresourceswith smartdevelopment Pursueopportuniesforalternaveenergysources/fuels Promoteandpursuehousingrehabilitaonprograms,elderly housingandaordablehousingprograms Expandthecurrenthousingsupplyofaordablehousing withinthecontextofstable,maintainedandaccessible neighborhoods Establishprograms,events&desnaonstoaractvisitors andenhancerecreaonalopportunies Preservetheregion sexceponalheritage Performance Measures #ofintermunicipalplansdeveloped #oftrainingsessions #ofaendees #ofmunicipalconsolidaons #ofnewbusinessstarted #ofbusinessplanscompleted %changeinemployment #ofcoordinatedprojectapplicaons #offleetsconvertedtonaturalgas #ofinternaonal/exportsales(annual) #ofregionalcompaniesparcipangat internaonalevents #ofbusinessfinanceloansprovided #ofloansclosed #ofbusinessesexporngtoforeign markets #ofjobscreated/retained #ofprojectsalignedwithlrtp Declineinthe#of poor IRIMiles Declineinthe#ofSDBridges #ofassetscollected #ofprojectsapplicaonswith demonstratedlinkagetoeconomic development #oflabormarketinformaonrequests madeandreportsprovided #ofbusinessandeducaoncollaborave programsimplemented #ofentrepreneurtrainingprogramsheld (i.e.juniorachievement,businessand EducaonConnect,CareerConnect) #ofprojectapplicaons #ofprojectswithcontextsensive designs Mediansalepriceofasinglefamilyhome #ofhousingunits #ofcommunitybasedrehabpolicies #ofacviesinpawildsimpactreport #ofincreasedvisitors Total#ofvisitorsannuallybyaracon 9
Comprehensive Economic Strategy (CEDS) 5year Plan A Planning Framework Seng the Stage Government Cooperaon & Coordinaon TheNorthCentralPennsylvaniaRegionalPlanningandCommission s(northcentral)comprehensiveeconomic StrategyhasbeendevelopedtolinkLandUse,Transportaon,andEconomicdecisionswhichwill include: Community, Economic & Business Transportaon Infrastructure, Technology & Broadband Workforce & Educaon Natural Resources Housing Tourism & Recreaon Summary Observaons Ourregionishometonearly225,000peoplewhorelyon ourtransportaonsystemforavarietyofneeds,including traveltowork,school,church,shopping,ormedicalcare. Theregion spopulaongrowthrateisdecliningwhilethe populaonisaging. Unemploymentratescloselyfollowstateandnaonal trends. Theregion ssubstanalpowderedmetalsindustrycluster isconsolidanginternaonally. Thereisalevelofuncertaintyconcerningtheimpactsof thenaturalgasshaleindustry. Largest Industries Criteriathatwillyieldsignificanteconomicdevelopmentimpact. Projectsthatarestrategicallythemostimportanttotheregion. Aprocessand/orcriteriainwhichregionallysignificantprojectsandinvestmentscanbedeterminedonaregular basis. Idenficaonofpartnersandimplemenngagenciesrelatedtoeachrecommendaon. Mechanisms,tools,orsystemsusedtopromotecoordinaonwithinprogramsoflanduse,transportaon,resource conservaon,andeconomicdevelopmentdecisionsandinvestments. Connuingengagementandaprocessforsustainedcoordinatedplanningwithintheregiontomaintainandhelp implementtheplan. NorthCentralhastakenaninnovaveapproachindevelopingthisplan.A varietyoforganizaons,bothpublicandprivate,wereconsultedinorderto determinewhatprogramsandiniavesareimportantforthefutureof ourregion. Thekeytocomprehensiveimplementaonoftheplaniscommitmentfrom ourpartnersandanongoingintegratedprocessthatinvolvesaddressing fourkeyquesons: Whatisourvisionforthefuture? Howdoweachieveourgoals? Wheredowetargetourinvestments? Whichdecisionswillhelpensureoursuccess? Regions have become the basic building blocks of the global economy; and our ability to cooperate regionally will determine our ability to compete globally NARC Fastest Growing Industries 2 8 5
Comprehensive Economic Strategy (CEDS) 5year Plan A Regional SWOT Analysis North Central completed an ongoing and inclusive outreach to regional, county and municipal ocials, residents, business and commercial interests and representaves, the administrators of instuons of higher educaon, and economicdevelopmentgroups. CommonThemesidenfiedinclude: Regional Survey Response DuringFebruary2012,NorthCentraladministeredapublicsurveytogaugethepublic sopinionontheissuesaecngour region.thetablebelowisasummaryoftheresponsesandwhatweheardfromarearesidents. POSITIVE NEGATIVE I N T E R N A L E X T E R N A L 6 STRENGTHS LowCostofLiving FamilySustainingJobs Aracvelandscapeandscenicviews LowCrimeRates CommunityPrideandHistoricHeritage LackofCongeson AbundanceofNaturalResources THREATS Lackofdiversityineconomyhinderseconomic growthandingenuity BusinessClusterCollapse Impendingrerementsremoveexperienced andknowledgeableemployeesfromworkforce Outmigraonofpopulaonthreatensany noonofskilledworkforce Lackofaordableandqualityhousing PoorInfrastructureprovideschallengesto developers Collapseofexisnginfrastructurerequires aenonandinhibitstheregionfromdeveloping newinfrastructure Lackoflimitedaccesshighwayrunning northsouthtoconnectourregiontobordering interstatesandnearbymetropolitanstascal Areas(MSAs) Uncertaintyaboutimpactsofthenaturalgas industryeconomicallyandontheenvironment Reducedpublicfundingforprogramsandprojects Decliningpopulaonleadstoadecliningtaxbase WEAKNESESS BrainDrain RegionalCompeonandParochialism RuralandIsolated AgingPopulaon LackofSkilledWorkers DeteriorangInfrastructure OPPORTUNITIES Capitalizeonournaturalforestsandscenicviewsto promoteourregionaspennsylvania spremier Recreaondesnaon. Increasednumberoftourismaraconstoraise awarenesstotheworldoutsideofourregion. Specializedindustriesandmanufacturingprovidefor opportuniestoaractancillarybusinessesandtalent. Promotelowcostoflivingtoaractnewbusiness andindustryandresidentstotheregion. PromotetheuseofnaturalgasalongRoute219as afuelsource Abundantnaturalgasprovidesenergyopportunies forlocalbusinessesandindustrydevelopment. Abundantnaturalresourcesaractoil,naturalgas andloggingindustries. Abundantamountofdevelopableland Impendingrerementsbringopportunitytorecruit outsidetalent Agingpopulaonprovidesopportunitytodevelop mentorshipprograms Strongwillingnesstodevelopandfoster apprenceshipprograms. ProximitytoCanadianborderandErieCanal providestradeopportunity Advancesintechnologyprovidetheopportunity tomarkettheregiontotelecommuterslookingto vacatelarge,congestedciesandsuburbs. Accesstocapitalforbusinessdevelopmentthrough local,regionalandstateprograms Planning in an era of Economic Uncertainty Theregion sfuturewillbedeterminedbasedonthedirecons idenfiedinthecomprehensiveeconomicstrategy (CEDS)fiveyearplan.Theprojectsandpoliciesthatflowoutofour planningprogramwillhoweverbeaectedbyseveralfactors: Uncertainty at the federal level Needs overwhelming available resources Increasing costs Environmental Regulaons SMART PLANNING Financial Community Land Use Transportaon Economic 7