A survey that helps steer federal investment asks which regional issues, for example the addiction epidemic and a “poor regional image,” apply more drag on economic betterment.
The NEPA Alliance is conducting a survey to inform a five-year plan and wants people who live here to weigh in on challenges and opportunities.
It asks survey takers to pick the top three areas for focused investment, for example the labor force, tourism and access to air, highway and rail transportation.
The Alliance is the federally designated economic development planner for seven counties: Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne.
By law, it produces a five-year Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, or CEDS, for the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Survey results fuel the CEDS, which the Alliance uses when hunting down government grants.
“The economy has changed a lot in the last five years, especially with the advent of the distribution centers that we have here,” Alliance Research and Information Manager Steven Zaricki said. “We have a vast region. The needs of Wayne County are probably different than the needs in Luzerne County.”
Relying on government data, the Alliance’s July 2018 annual CEDS performance report found out-migration of a younger workforce, old and crumbling infrastructure including roads, bridges, utility lines and homes, as well as low educational attainment persist as leading deficiencies.
The report also found the region’s entrepreneurial spirit is shrinking slightly, with the number of small firms — those with one to nine employees — declined from 2012 to 2016.
The survey, which remains open until 12:01 a.m. Saturday, puts those kinds of questions to the people.
“It’s an opportunity for people in various walks of life to get together and consider what are the needs, the primary needs in Northeast Pennsylvania,” Alliance board Chairman Phil Condron said.
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Take the survey
To take the survey on the Future of Northeastern Pennsylvania 2019, visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/PY7BP3L. The deadline to complete the survey is 12:01 a.m. Saturday.