A public hearing has been set Wednesday morning to address population change in light of the decline projected by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.
McKean County Commissioner Tom Kreiner will testify, as will Kate Brock, executive director of the Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties, and Leadership Elk and Cameron.
Kreiner explained his testimony will paint a picture of the region’s unmet needs.
“Our housing issues, there’s a failure to keep properties up,” he said. But at the same time, there’s funding available to help low- to moderate-income people, but not ones who just miss the qualifications.
“And I’ll talk about the need for assistance for building homes,” he continued. “When you have families moving into an area, they are looking for healthcare that includes a functional hospital, strong schools and affordable housing.”
Kreiner said Venango County Commissioner Chip Abramovic is going to address healthcare at the hearing, so his comments were directed elsewhere.
“Our population is growing in age and a lot of people want to stay in their own homes,” Kreiner said, but added, “we don’t have enough personnel to meet their needs.”
The need for trade schools must be mentioned, because the area lacks plumbers and electricians. Higher education must be maintained, and a way found to keep nurses, doctors and lawyers here.
“I’ll talk about agriculture and how the number of farms have dwindled, and a lot of them have decreased the amount of acreage they farm and/or the number of head they raise,” Kreiner said. “It’s a positive that we’re seeing more involvement in 4H and Future Farmers of America.”
Broadband and economic development will round out his allotted seven minutes.
“Economic development is the main point, then you have a reason for families to move into the area, but then you need to meet their needs,” Kreiner said.
As for Brock, she will focus on cultivating community-based leadership.
“In the wake of population decline, our communities will need more civic-oriented individuals to make decisions about our community resources,” she said. “Community-based leadership programs such as Leadership Elk & Cameron (as well as Leadership McKean and Leadership Potter County) provide awareness of our community assets and opportunities, they connect the participants to current community leaders who demonstrate how to solve community issues, and the programs foster experiences, attitudes and behaviors that spark civic readiness.”
She continued, explaining leadership graduates have been successful in their communities.
“Our alumni have gone on to elected positions as county commissioners, with city councils, school boards, borough councils, and as mayors; they have also joined nonprofit boards, become poll workers, and led community improvement efforts,” Brock said.
“In summary, policymakers can seek ways to support the growth of rural community-based leadership programs for both youth and adults through professional development for program coordinators, incentives and/or funding,” she said, “encourage and help rural communities to access resources which lead to the development of high-quality community-based leadership programs; and look for ways to institutionalize community engagement in the K-12 sector, especially among students who are likely to stay or return to their rural communities.”
Other speakers at the hearing, which will be livestreamed at www.RepMoul.com and www.Facebook.com/RepMoul, will include Mark Critz, western regional director of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and executive director of the Rural Development Council; Jill Foys, executive director of the Northwest Commission; Rod Wilt, executive director of the Penn-Northwest Development Corp.; Andrew Sokolski, executive vice president of Strategic Alliances, Whirley Drink Works, and member of Warren Worx; Amanda Hetrick, superintendent of Forest Area School District; Dr. Susan Traverso, president of Thiel College; and Janice Walters, interim executive director and chief operating officer of the Rural Health Redesign Center.
The hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Lutheran Heritage Room, Miller Student Center, Thiel College, Greenville.
Members of the Center for Rural PA include Rick Esch, president of Pitt-Bradford, and Susan Snelick, president of Northern Pennsylvania Regional College.
