Northern Tier Regional Planning & Development Commission

Equal Opportunity is the Law Igualdad De Oportunidad Es La Ley https://lnkd.in/eHtKbm4n

It's that spooky time of year again! Whether you're trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins, or just enjoying the autumn vibes, we hope you have a bat-tastic time! 🦇 Stay safe, have fun, and may your candy bags overflow! 🍭🍬

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) named Cynthia Traore, NTRPDC Business Development Administrator to participate in the 2024-2025 class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute, a leadership training opportunity that equips Appalachian community leaders to use economic development as a tool to drive positive change. The 2024-2025 class comprises a diverse network of professionals representing all 13 Appalachian states and a wide spectrum of perspectives and sectors, including tourism, healthcare, education, civil service, and more. The nine-month curriculum is anchored by six multi-day seminars across the Appalachian region focusing on each of ARC’s strategic investment priorities, which aim to strengthen economic and community growth in Appalachia. The class will run from October 2024 through July 2025, focusing on skill-building seminars and best practice reviews to prepare fellows to: · Design effective economic development project proposals · Integrate community assets into long-term economic development strategies · Identify resources available to spark economic and community development · Locate and access investment capital from a variety of public and private sources · Prepare competitive applications for public grant opportunities · Use expanded connections and leadership skills to create strong regional partnerships “The Appalachian Leadership Institute supports the enduring work of Appalachia’s changemakers, while helping them advance their skillsets and build upon valuable regional connections with likeminded leaders,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “I send my sincerest congratulations to our newest round of ALI fellows knowing their passion and purpose will ensure an even more vibrant future for Appalachia’s communities.” Appalachian Leadership Institute fellows were selected via a competitive application process to reflect the Appalachian region’s wide range of economic development challenges, opportunities, and strategies. Upon completion of the program, the Fellows will automatically become part of the Appalachian Leadership Institute Alumni Network, a peer-to-peer working group of experts helping foster collaborative solutions that will build a stronger future for Appalachia. “ARC’s Appalachian Leadership Institute is a valuable program that allows participants to learn more about each of ARC’s strategic investment priorities and the needs of the region,” said ARC States’ Co-Chair Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. “I’m proud of the three Tennesseans chosen to participate in this class and look forward to seeing how they'll use their leadership skills to engage in their communities.” To learn more about the program, visit: https://lnkd.in/eNKQ66yR. To meet the 2024-2025 class of fellows and learn more about how they are working to transform their Appalachian communities, visit here: https://lnkd.in/emVXKDFY

🚀 We're Hiring! Join Our Team! 🚀 Are you passionate about empowering youth in our region and fostering business connections? Do you thrive in a dynamic, innovative environment? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you! The Northern Tier Regional Planning & Development Commission is looking for a full-time Business Education Program Manager to assist in facilitating the Twin Tiers ARISE program (TTAP) and the Business Education Partnership (BEP). This role offers a generous benefits package and a flexible work schedule, providing a great work-life balance! 📩 Ready to apply? Submit your resume and cover letter to info@northerntier.org with "NTRPDC - Business Education Program Manager" in the subject line, or apply through Indeed. EOE #northerntierhappenings #jobopportunity #ARISE #TTAP #businesseducation #careerexploration #collaboration

𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 🚗 🚧 🛣 🚏 The Northern Tier Rural Planning Organization (RPO) is updating its 20-year regional long-range transportation plan. The plan will serve as a blueprint for the region’s decision-making on transportation projects and will serve as a spending plan through the year 2050. As part of the update process, the RPO is inviting residents of Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, and Wyoming counties to participate in a series of open houses scheduled throughout the region. Attendees will have the opportunity to share their opinions, interests, and concerns about the Northern Tier’s regional transportation system with staff members from the Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission (NTRPDC), PennDOT, and LRTP consultant team. Public input received at the open houses will help drive the final plan recommendations and advance future transportation projects aimed at improving safety, mobility, and linkages to economic development. The NTRPDC is leading the update of the transportation plan, in cooperation with PennDOT and technical consulting assistance from Michael Baker International. It is being guided by the region’s Rural Transportation Advisory Committee (RTAC), which includes representatives from the region’s five counties, local transit agencies, and PennDOT. “This process is a regional conversation and an important opportunity for those who live and work within the region to discuss how we want to address transportation and traffic issues over the long-term,” said Brian Baker, Regional Planning Program Manager at NTRPDC. “We all have a stake in those decisions, for our own future and economic competitiveness.” 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘛𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘕𝘛𝘙𝘗𝘋𝘊) 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺, 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘗𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘴𝘺𝘭𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘢’𝘴 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘛𝘪𝘦𝘳, 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘚𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘯, 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢, 𝘛𝘪𝘰𝘨𝘢, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘞𝘺𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘕𝘛𝘙𝘗𝘋𝘊’𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴. 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 312 𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘵, 𝘛𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢, 𝘗𝘈 18848. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘳.𝘰𝘳𝘨.

We are excited to announce the relaunch of our website, www.northerntier.org! 🚀💻 The redesigned website aims to provide visitors with an enhanced user experience and improved access to valuable resources and information. Key features of the new website include: 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻: A clean and modern layout that enhances navigation and readability. 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗿-𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲: Intuitive navigation menus and user-friendly interface for seamless browsing. 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁: Updated content offering comprehensive information about the services, programs, and initiatives of the NTRPDC. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻: Fully responsive design ensuring optimal viewing experience across all devices. "The new website will serve as a valuable resource for our community members, partners, and stakeholders, providing easy access to important information and fostering greater engagement.", said Frank Thompson, NTRPDC Executive Director. Visitors are encouraged to explore the new website and stay connected with us through our social media channels for the latest updates and announcements. Feedback is welcomed from users as we strive to make continuous improvements. 🗳💪 #northerntierhappenings #websitelaunch #workforcedevelopment #economicdevelopment #communityengagement

On Tuesday, June 25th, the NTRPDC held a Municipal Grant Writing Workshop at the Tokishi Training Center in Wellsboro, PA. The session commenced with Ethan Sexton, APEX Accelerator Program Manager, providing insights into obtaining a SAM number, a prerequisite for most state and federal funding applications. Following that, Kim Jennings, Community Development Program Manager, led a comprehensive overview of grant writing essentials, covering topics such as understanding program guidelines, crafting a compelling narrative, assembling supporting documents including letters of support, and preparing the grant package for submission. She also highlighted various funding opportunities available to municipalities throughout the year. Lastly, Katie Smith, Economic Development Program Manager, discussed the specifics of ARC and EDA funding programs and guided participants on the application process. Our dedication to supporting municipalities is underscored by a diverse array of specialized services tailored to meet the unique needs of local governments. Whether you're seeking knowledge-sharing opportunities, critical resources, grant assistance, or advanced technological solutions, NTRPDC stands ready as your primary resource. For inquiries or further details about our grant assistance program, please reach out to Kim Jennings at jennings@northerntier.org. #northerntierhappenings #grants #technicalassistance #communitydevelopment

Cynthia Traore, Business Development Administrator, and Stacey Urban, Loan Program Manager, recently participated in the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Economic Future Forum Conference held in Spokane, WA. The conference united economic development experts to delve into emerging industry trends, explore advanced technologies and their applications, and highlight innovative strategies aimed at driving impactful economic growth in their respective regions. #northerntierhappenings #professionaldevelopment #knowledgeispower #IEDCSPOKANE

𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐏𝐃𝐂 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 On Thursday, June 6th, the Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission (NTRPDC) hosted a business summit at the Bradford County Public Safety Building in Towanda. The event focused on engaging nontraditional workforce populations in today’s everchanging business climate. Approximately 80 attendees from a variety of industries and organizations participated. Cynthia Traore, NTRPDC Business Development Administrator, served as the master of ceremonies. The summit began with a presentation by Ed Legge and Kim Dellis from the Pennsylvania Center for Workforce Analysis (CWIA) who shared extensive data on employment trends of the "nontraditional" workforce in the Northern Tier. The pair also demonstrated how to navigate and utilize the CWIA website for resources, such as wage information and regional employment demographics. Following this, Bridget Frascella from the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) explained OVR’s role in providing training, job placement, on-the-job training, employer incentives, and counseling services for those with disabilities. She also discussed reasonable accommodations for hiring differently-abled individuals, surprising the audience with the fact that over 50% of accommodations cost $0. Souleymane Fall and Nigel Bowe from JVES Human Services addressed the challenges faced by formerly incarcerated individuals in the job market. They emphasized the significance of "Ban the Box" legislation, which aims to prevent employers from asking about an applicant's criminal history on a job application form. Both speakers encouraged the audience to adopt a fresh perspective when considering individuals with criminal backgrounds. The event concluded with a panel moderated by NTRPDC Workforce Director, Melissa Fleming. Panelists included Shane Nickerson, Tioga County Commissioner and owner of Nickerson Construction, who shared his experiences and described how he provides a supportive environment for employees recovering from substance abuse. Steve Vischansky from the Bradford County Supervised Bail Program outlined resources available for recently released individuals. Terry Drake, CEO, and Daniel Kizale, Clinical Director of Endless Mountains Behavioral Health Center, discussed their experiences and successes in assisting individuals overcoming substance abuse issues. "The summit received great feedback, and NTRPDC plans to host similar events in the future," Fleming stated. "We hope it provided valuable information and educated professionals on fostering inclusivity in the workforce." Suggestions for topics can be emailed to info@northerntier.org. NTRPDC is a Local Development District serving Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, and Wyoming Counties. #northerntierhappenings #inclusiveworkplace #nontraditionalworkforce #diversitymatters

Congratulations to Jody McCarty on nine years with NTRPDC! Jody serves as the Workforce Program Administrator for our organization. She oversees our Apprenticeship, ARISE TTAP, BEP, TANF Youth, and WIOA Youth programs - just to name a few! Her commitment, passion, and contributions have been instrumental in our success. Here’s to many more years of achievements and growth together! #northerntierhappenings #employeeanniversary #staffhighlight