VISION 2000: The Greater Forest City Area Strategic Planning Program
Leadership
The Greater Forest City Area has a proud, 50 year, post-war legacy of community problem solving, leadership and self-help. Strategic planning is a new tool in the public sector's growth management tool chest. It is altogether fitting that the Greater Forest City Area has completed one of the earliest municipal strategic plans in Pennsylvania.
Four communities working together
The VISION 2000 Greater Forest City Area Strategic Planning Program is the product of a rare cooperative effort by 4 municipalities in three separate counties - 4 communities who realize that the geographic, economic, social and spiritual ties that bind them are stronger than the political boundaries that separate them. Under the umbrella of the Lackawanna County Community Development Agency, the Boroughs of Forest City (Susquehanna County) and Vandling (Lackawanna County) joined with the residents of the neighboring villages of Browndale (Clinton Township, Wayne County) and Richmondale (Fell Township, Lackawanna County) to undertake and complete this strategic planning process.
The following are the major changes likely to affect the Greater Forest City Area over the next 10 years.
Real Economic Growth Is Forecast
The general economic growth forecast for the Greater Forest City Area's Tri-County Region (Lackawanna, Susquehanna and Wayne Counties) is for a continuation of relatively robust growth in employment. While the Greater Forest City Area is not likely to become a major regional job growth center, it can nevertheless move forward with economic development initiatives that will produce a significant number of new local jobs and a strengthened local economy.
Lackawanna Valley Industrial Highway
Like all highways, the Lackawanna Valley Industrial Highway will be a two way street. By bringing the Greater Forest City Area less than 30 minutes from downtown Scranton, the highway challenges the Greater Forest City Area to attract new, young homeowners to live in the area and to attract new shoppers, tourists and travelers to help keep Main Street busy.
Economic Development based on Travel & Tourism
The Greater Forest City Area can position itself to gain a share of the regional growth in travel & tourism. The two major Rails-to-Trails Projects (D&H and O&W) coupled with the Lackawanna River State Park as a major trailhead facility can bring significant numbers of tourist and travel dollars into the Greater Forest City Area economy the year-round.
Telecommunications Revolution
The Greater Forest City Area should be perceived as an attractive, uncongested small town environment for the emerging generation of telecommuters and self employed information workers.
Aging Population - Relatively High Housing Turnover
Strategic planning and action by the community can result in many more of these homes being sold to owner occupants - an ounce of blight prevention that can be worth pounds and pounds of real estate appreciation and community revitalization.
Greater Forest City Area Strategic Objectives: 1994-2000
Given the global changes projected for the Northeast Pennsylvania region enumerated above, and having evaluated the many strengths and strategic weaknesses of the Greater Forest City Area community (its infrastructure, economy, housing stock, environment, quality of life, public administration) the following major strategic objectives were formulated for local consideration and action over the next 6 years. They are the foundation of the Greater Forest City Area's VISION 2000.
1. Improve outdoor recreational access to the Lackawanna River to better serve current residents and to help attract new young families to the area.
2. Pro-actively market the existing housing stock of the Greater Forest City Area to attract young homeowner families as vacancies occur.
3. Continue rebuilding the Greater Forest City Area economy through new sources of industrial, office and travel & tourism employment.
4. Work hard to sustain the Main Street commercial district as the "soul" of the community.
5. Improve the delivery of public services through more professionalized local government.
a. Coordination of local Police and Fire Services and building code enforcement.
b. Organization of a Joint Municipal Authority to upgrade sewer and water facilities.
c. Consolidation of local government services to lower costs, improve service delivery and give the Greater Forest City Area more clout.
