Section 3: Regional Conditions and Trends (PDF, 1.24 MB)
Southwestern Pennsylvania is engaged in a transformation. After decades of challenges—most notably the contraction of the steel industry and the resulting declines in population and the prominence of urban centers—our region is recognized worldwide for its ability to adapt and renew itself through concerted action.
Southwestern Pennsylvania is part of the multi-state Appalachian Region, and SPC is designated by the Appalachian Regional Commission as our region’s Local Development District. The shared geographic, environmental and economic conditions of this larger region offer an important context for understanding the forces shaping Southwestern Pennsylvania and can produce insights that aid long-range planning. Appalachia’s different regions play important roles in each other’s economies, and part of SPC’s mission is to communicate with our partners and our neighbors to address common issues.
To better understand our regional context, SPC included input from our neighboring development districts on economic conditions and travel patterns for a 62-county area adjacent to our region in four states.
“Local Development Districts are at the heart of the Appalachian Regional Commission’s work throughout all thirteen states of our region. Here in Washington, we see many good initiatives, but SPC’s Project Region stands out in the level of public involvement and the use of the latest technology for civic engagement. I participated in one of their large Regional Partners meetings, and was impressed with the technology they had incorporated to involve large numbers of people and achieve more informed discussion on regional issues. The plan they have produced and the means by which they involved the public is a model others should consider replicating.” --Rick Peltz, Alternate Federal Co-Chair Appalachian Regional Commission |
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