Co-Sponsorship Memo Details

By 2050, Pennsylvania’s rural areas are projected to lose 5.8% of their population, whereas our urban areas are projected to grow by 4.1%. If these figures from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania hold true, these communities will face increased challenges meeting their workforce needs, providing education opportunities, maintaining access to local healthcare, providing emergency and other critical services, and more.
 
While these projections are a warning of what could be if we do nothing, they are not a guarantee of what will be if we do something. That’s why we will soon introduce legislation establishing a Rural Population Revitalization Commission to connect policymakers, local officials, and subject experts to examine what programs and services are currently in place and to develop a revitalization plan for rural Pennsylvania.

Establishing a commission focused on medium & long-term planning utilizing the expertise of a variety of stakeholders – including state and local officials, rural policy professionals, business and industry leaders, among others – will help ensure that our rural communities can not only survive but thrive in the decades to come. As members of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania Board of Directors, we’ve heard at hearings across the Commonwealth that our rural leaders are already taking action to maintain and enhance their quality of life – but they need more help to meet the unique challenges they face.

Considering this, the commission will examine ways the commonwealth may be able to improve policies and assistance in a wide range of areas, including, but not limited to:

• Attracting and retaining residents in rural Pennsylvania;
• Education and career opportunities;
• Access to health care;
• Affordable housing;
• Statutory and regulatory costs and impacts on rural municipal governments, businesses and organizations;
• Access to social services, including child care; and
• Grant awards and tax credit opportunities for rural Pennsylvania residents and businesses.

This first-of-its-kind commission would make Pennsylvania a national leader when it comes to retaining, attracting, and revitalizing the population of our rural communities – and our commonwealth at-large. Please join us in co-sponsoring this important legislation supporting rural Pennsylvania and reinforcing its resiliency for decades to come.