Transcript Major Economic Development Projects NEPA Region

Lackawanna County Cooperation Commission
Alan Baranski, AICP
V.P. Community & Government Services
Kurt Bauman
Government Services Manager
March 26, 2009
The Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA)
 A staff of 30 full time and part time professionals
 A Board of Directors with 46 members who represent each of Northeastern
Pennsylvania’s seven counties and NEPA’s service area - Carbon, Lackawanna,
Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne
History
 Organized in 1964 by the private sector as a 501(c)4 public nonprofit
 Became a Local Development District (LDD) and an Economic
Development District (EDD) in 1965
 Recognized the value of a regional approach to economic development
 Now a public/private partnership with representation from state, county
and local government and private sector organizations
 Regional population - 1,001,476
 Regional coverage - 4,400 square miles
Lackawanna County Board Members
Commissioner Mike Washo, (Kevin Haggerty)
Philip Condron
Timothy Laboranti
John “Jack” McNulty
Vincent Riggi
7 LDD’s in Pennsylvania serving 52 Counties
72 LDD’s in the 13 State Appalachian Region
Organizational Structure
NEPA Divisions
Administrative Services
Accounting, Contract Management & HR
Information Technology
Research & Information
Community & Government Services
Planning
Local Government Assistance
Nonprofit & Community Assistance Center (NCAC)
Enterprise Development
Business Finance Center/Loan Programs
International Business Development
Government Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)
EDA & ARC Grant Program
Marketing & Commutations
NEPA Affiliations
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)
Economic Development Administration (EDA)
PA Department of Community & Economic Development
PA Center for Local Government Services
Local Development District Association of Pennsylvania (LDDAP)
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation - Planning Partner (RPO)
Northeastern Pennsylvania Environmental Partners
Pennsylvania State Data Center
Lackawanna/Luzerne Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
American Planning Association (APA)
National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)
National Association of Regional Councils (NARC)
Alliance of National Heritage Areas (ANHA)
NEPA Committees
Northeastern Pennsylvania Rural Transportation Planning Organization
Committee (RPO)
Northeastern Pennsylvania Rural Transportation Planning Organization
Transit Subcommittee (RPO)
Blue Ribbon Task Force (in support of Tobyhanna Army Depot)
Focus 81 Committee
NEPA Energy Advisory Council
NEPA Telecommunication Committee
NEPA Entrepreneurial Network
Federal Partners
Appalachian Regional Commission
Increase job opportunities and per capita income, strengthen the capacity to
compete in a global economy, develop and improve infrastructure to make regional
economy competitive and build Appalachian Development Highway System to
reduce isolation.
Economic Development Administration
To lead the economic development agenda by promoting innovation and
competitiveness, preparing the region for growth and success in the worldwide
economy.
State Partners
PA DCED
The goal of the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)
is to foster opportunities for businesses and communities to succeed and thrive in a
global economy, thereby enabling Pennsylvanians to achieve a superior quality of
life. Led by Acting Secretary George Cornelius, the Department ensures growth
and development in our businesses and communities across Pennsylvania.
PennDOT
Mission Statement - Through the active involvement of customers, employees and
partners, the Department of Transportation provides services and a safe
intermodal transportation system that attracts businesses and residents and
stimulates Pennsylvania’s economy.
Community and Government Services
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MTAP (Municipal Technical Assistance Program)
Northeastern Pennsylvania Rural Transportation Planning Organization
Focus 81 - www.focus81.com
Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP)
Energy Assistance Program
Multi-Municipal Cooperative Purchasing (New Program)
eCOMMonwealth Program
Broadband Outreach & Aggregation Fund (BOAF)
Special Projects
 Plymouth Township – Act 47 Recovery Plan Coordinator
 Central Wayne Regional Authority
 Damascus Township
 Milford/Matamoras Shared Services
 Back Mountain Community Partnership
 Pennsylvania Route 6 Heritage Communities Program
Community and Government Services
Energy Assistance Program
 Program goal is to help local governments, schools and hospitals reduce their
operating costs and energy consumption through education, training and service
delivery
The program includes:
1. Technical Assistance: NEPA will assist in finding program funding including grant
& loan availability for assessments, planning & capital improvements
2. Utility Bill Analysis: NEPA will provide a comprehensive Utility Bill Analysis
Report including detailed energy consumption & cost
3. Training Workshops/Seminars: NEPA has partnered with a variety of energy
consultants & experts to develop workshops & seminars designed to educate clients
Community and Government Services
Energy Assistance Program
 Traffic Signal Conversion Program – Grant Round
 LED’s consume 80-90 percent less energy than conventional traffic
signals.
 LED’s have an operating life from 5-10 years as compared to 1 year for
an incandescent lamp.
 Payback or ROI is 2-4 years without grant funding
 On average its costs $3,000 per signalized intersection for labor and
materials to convert from incandescent to LED signals.
Community and Government Services
Multi-Municipal Cooperative Purchasing
 NEPA has been developing an organizational structure and pilot
area for the initiation of a cooperative purchasing program that
will better serve local governments with an expanded commodity
listing and cumulative purchasing power
 NEPA hired a consultant to develop a cooperative purchasing
alliance website for the region
 NEPA staff will be working over the next few months to
determine a date for initiating the new purchasing alliance
website and cooperative purchasing service
Community and Government Services
Central Wayne Regional Authority
 The Boroughs of Bethany and Honesdale and the Townships of Cherry Ridge,
Dyberry, and Texas are being assisted in the formation of a regional sewer authority
 NEPA and WEDCO staff have been meeting with the professional legal/engineering
team and the regional group to continue the process of the regional authority creation
 NEPA staff has been notified that WEDCO received a Community Revitalization
Program grant for $25,000 and received an additional $25,000 in DCED Shared
Municipal Services (SMS) program funds to cover the professional service costs
related to the start-up of the authority
 A Public Hearing was conducted in Honesdale on December 19th as required by the
Municipal Authorities Act and the governing bodies of the five participating
municipalities have now formally approved the Intermunicipal Agreement
Community and Government Services
Back Mountain Community Partnership
Drafting the Articles of Agreement
Sample Ordinance Language for entering into a cooperative agreement
Research on upcoming FHWA on Penn DOT road sign retroreflectivity requirements
Coordinated and scheduled upcoming Open Records Seminar with
Open Records Office Deputy Director Barry Fox in conjunction with
State Senator Lisa Baker’s office and Misericordia University (April 2nd)
Facilitation of meetings and stimulating ideas for cooperative initiatives
Provide administrative support
Community and Government Services
Damascus Township, Pike County
Management & Operations Assessment Report
Completed Management and Operations Assessment
Developed best practices/procedures document pertaining to certain
issues outlined in the report
Provided a comparison analysis of revenue/taxes of surrounding
municipalities
Provided operations and administrative recommendations to improve
efficiencies
Coordinating the arrangement of a LTAP Posting and Bonding Course
Community and Government Services
Milford/Matamoras Shared Services Initiative
 NEPA staff assisted municipalities in Pike County with the
preparation of a grant application for the purpose of
purchasing refuse collection equipment and the initiation of a
joint collection program
 The municipalities received a $50,000 Shared Municipal
Services (SMS) grant leveraged against $90,000 of local match
Community and Government Services
Plymouth Township Financial Recovery Plan - Act 47
(Municipalities Financial Recovery Act)
DCED designated Plymouth Township, Luzerne County as "financially
distressed" in 2004.
NEPA was appointed as the recovery plan coordinator and worked with
township officials to develop a long-term financial recovery plan.
NEPA has assisted the township with the implementation of the plan.
NEPA has updated the recovery plan highlighting the progress that has
been made in the township over the
past six years.
Research and Information
 NEPA’s Research & Information Department offers strategic and demographic
information concerning the community and economic aspects of Northeastern
Pennsylvania and its counties.
 NEPA currently offers economic impact modeling to assist in evaluating economic and
community development projects in the region.
 NEPA develops and updates the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for the
region, an annual document that is required by the U.S. Department of Commerce,
Economic Development Administration.
 From July 2007 to June 2008, there were 346 requests for information from various
private organizations, businesses, government, media, academic/research institutions
and private citizens.
 For customized data contact Steve Zaricki, Research & Information Manager.
Community Assistance
Nonprofit & Community Assistance Center
NCAC offers a suite of unique services, workshops, and resources that have
been strategically designed to assist the more 2,200 nonprofits in our region.
 Offers professional newsletters, funding source indexes and reference
materials to area nonprofit, civic, social service and community
groups/organizations.
 NCAC, a cooperating collection of the Foundation Center, has access to
a national reference library & an electronic database of funding sources
for nonprofit organizations, municipalities and various community
groups/clubs.
1151 Oak Street
Pittston, PA 18640
570-65-5581
www.nepa-alliance.org
Questions?