An improved economy
Word that Fayette and Greene counties are no longer considered “distressed” by the federal Appalachian Regional Commission is one of those good news-bad news scenarios. The good news is that in changing the counties’ status to “transitional” ARC can trumpet that its programs that sent millions of dollars automatically to the counties were put to good use. The economies, according to ARC, show strides. Fewer people are unemployed, fewer residents are considered impoverished and per capita income is on the rise.
The bad news is that the changes are miniscule and just barely over the ‘distressed’ threshold, and as most folks living in these counties know, we are a long way yet from thriving economic times. The change also means that instead of Fayette and Greene automatically receiving money from the federal program, they must now compete with other counties in the Appalachian Region. This shouldn’t present a problem as neither county has been sitting back the past 10 years, cashing ARC checks and failing to plan for the future.
In fact, just the opposite has occurred. Areas of development have been identified. Water, sewerage, highway and airport projects have been prioritized – all with an eye toward making the area more attractive to business. Tax abatement and tax forgiveness programs are in place to provide added inducements, and both counties have found some success in growing service-oriented businesses. There is still much work that needs to be done. But ARC has assured the counties that it isn’t cutting them off and leaving them to slip backward.
As ARC spokesman Duane DeBruyne said, “No one should be concerned that ARC’s focus will be in any way diminished by this change in classification. ARC is sensitive to the fact that, while these counties are not on life support, they are certainly in intensive care.”
That message needs emphasized to Gov. Ed Rendell. The new governor has called for economic development summits in each of the state’s regions. This is where Fayette and Greene can push for state policies that will help and where they can convince Rendell, who will sit on the ARC commission, of the importance of continuing to fund selected projects.