Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners weigh brownfield redevelopment and rural revitalization strategies
Summary
Commissioners discussed leveraging brownfield assessment funds, attracting private investors to 'shovel-ready' sites such as the Fourth Street School, and regional strategies for retaining residents, including scholarships and fellowship programs to support grant writing and local projects.
Commissioner 1 said the county should pursue brownfield assessment dollars and market shovel‑ready sites to private investment firms that can match those grant funds to finance redevelopment. "The biggest thing that I found attractive was these small investment firms who will invest into shovel ready sites," he said, urging use of storytelling, quality‑of‑life programming and agri‑tourism to make projects appealing.
The commissioner singled out the Fourth Street School as a potential site for phase‑one brownfield work and future rehabilitation that could be presented to investors alongside plans for local interpretation and heritage programming. He also highlighted federal and regional tools, including EPA programs and Rural Fund Stacking, that could be combined with local grants to support reuse planning.
Speakers noted demographic challenges facing rural counties and discussed retention strategies. Commissioner 1 pointed to projections of rural population decline and recommended programs such as a Grow PA scholarship to incentivize students to stay in the region. He encouraged a focus on "rural proofing" policy rather than applying a one‑size‑fits‑all approach.
Other topics raised at the CCAP conference and in subsequent county discussions included tourism models (one county reported roughly $1.1 million in tourism tax revenues), opportunities for virtual reality or camps to showcase local heritage, and fellowship programs that place staff or specialists in counties for two to three years to assist with grant writing and administration.
County staff and commissioners said consultants are preparing community engagement for current brownfield projects (phase‑1 assessments are complete for several sites) and will launch public outreach next month to map candidate properties and collect resident input. Commissioners said the regional brownfield effort will cover Cameron, Potter and Clearfield counties and aim to match projects to realistic local economic uses.
The board did not take formal action on any specific redevelopment contract at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to continue planning and outreach and to pursue appropriate state and federal funding avenues.
