UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — After more than a year of work with local leaders, businesses, and Penn State's administration, the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County has developed a collaborative economic plan that aims to sustain and strengthen Centre County, its jurisdictions, and the broader region.
The CBICC unveiled Centre County’s Economic Development Strategic Plan at an event held at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
“Throughout the process of creating this economic development strategy, the CBICC and our partners worked closely with Penn State to ensure that the plan reflects and enhances the University’s deep roots in our community’s economic development,” said Greg Scott, CBICC president and CEO. “Penn State’s partnership has been critical to Centre County’s economic growth and success, and we are excited for the opportunities for progress and prosperity that our collaboration will continue to yield.”
Scott was joined at the unveiling event by Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi; Mark Higgins, chair of the Centre County Board of Commissioners; Ben Kirshner, chief transformation and opportunity officer for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and Luke Bernstein, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, among others.
“As a land-grant University, we were explicitly founded to serve and support our commonwealth, its growth, and its communities,” Bendapudi said. “To be here today, a proud partner in the continued growth of and development of our home in Centre County, is nothing short of a continuation of the promise of our land-grant mission.”
The plan, which was developed in response to challenges faced over the last few years, aims to address key areas, including population decline, workforce instability, and infrastructure challenges.
“Penn State is known — not only across Centre County, but across the commonwealth, the nation, and the world — as a coalition-builder and bridge-builder, an institution skilled in helping bring partners, skills and knowledge to the table, and in helping translate that combination into impact,” Bendapudi said. “We fully intend to continue bringing that skill to this work right here in Centre County, to serve as a trusted partner and good neighbor.”
Overall goals for the strategic plan emphasize business retention and expansion, investments in targeted and emerging industries, workforce and education development, and built and natural environments.
Bendapudi connected the goals of the CBICC plan to her own priorities as Penn State’s president and the overall strategic goals of the University, citing that she sees Penn State’s commitment to its land-grant mission of teaching, research and service leading to a lasting positive impact on Centre County and beyond.
“The new development plan marks a pivotal moment for Centre County, and I look forward to many collaborative projects between Penn State and leaders throughout the commonwealth, so we can chart a path for sustainable progress while meeting the needs of the community,” said Mike Stefan, Penn State vice president for Government and Community Relations.
The entire CBICC Centre County Economic Development Strategic Plan can be found at centrecountyforward.com.