The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association Planning presented an award to the six counties of Pennsylvania’s Southern Alleghenies for their Alleghenies Ahead plan at the chapter’s annual conference in Erie.
The planning commissions from Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon, and Somerset were recognized for a 139-page report that describes problems facing the Southern Alleghenies and possible ways to solve them. The plan outlines regional priorities and detailed county-level action plans. Each county lists five priorities. The report is the culmination of a five-year project.
“This is an honor bestowed upon everyone who has had a part in developing this plan,” David McFarland, director of Blair Planning in a statement, said. “The plan publicly recognizes we must make some course changes and be more proactive in capitalizing on the assets the region has to offer, both now and in the future.”
The initiative was the first time six Pennsylvania counties collaborated on a comprehensive plan.
When you remove the arbitrary boundaries that exist between our counties, you quickly realize how similar our collective assets and challenges really are,” Katie Kinka, senior planner for the Cambria County Planning Commission, said in a statement. “And you also realize the greater opportunities and advantages of working together to implement projects of regional scale and impact. We’ve certainly set a precedent by collaborating, and plan to continue to work productively as a region moving forward.”