Who We Are...
Our Goals and Accomplishments...
The South Central Assembly is a 501.c.3 non-profit organization focused on the broad scope of quality-of-life concerns in an eight-county region of south central Pennsylvania that includes Lancaster, Lebanon, Dauphin, Perry, Cumberland, Franklin, Adams and York counties. In the years since the Assembly was incorporated in February of 1997, we have succeeded in creating a forum for clear discussion and planning for our region's future. We have provided planning support, training, regional advocacy, a series of studies on land use, housing and lending practices. We have conducted on-going regional promotion as well as policy recommendations to the Commonwealth on matters ranging from housing, to lending, transportation, and agriculture.
Our Mission: To enhance the quality of life of South Central Pennsylvania citizens by improving governance in the region; by encouraging cooperation among governmental entities; by fostering public-private partnerships; by collaborating with other non-governmental organizations; by developing and communicating "best practices" in local government service delivery; and by facilitating the reduction of sprawl, all to make governance more efficient, effective and economical.
Our Immediate Goals and the Future...
Three themes have emerged as guideposts to future Assembly activities consistent with our mission statement: economic development; social issues; the environment (protection, enhancement, restoration and sustainability).
Our Housing Committee has been hosting regular meetings, providing education on a variety of issues. The Assembly is planning a Summit for winter, 2011; the focus for the Summit is lessons learned from the economic downturn. How can regional actors engage in more sustainable actions in the future as a result? Finally, we are developing sustainability programming. Concretely, the Assembly is partnering with the Borough of Carlisle and the Army War College to address runoff water problems in the area. At a broader level, the Assembly is in the early stages of developing a Sustainability Institute, which would address broader issues.
The Assembly's Record
This look toward the future builds on a decade and a half history of action supporting a more regional orientation.
Examples of our efforts on state policy matters include:
1. We have presented testimony relating to land-use planning, agricultural land preservation, and integration of land use and transportation planning at the regional forums provided by DCED.
2. We contributed to the DEP Ozone Action Stakeholders, serving as spokespersons and facilitating a series of public participation events on the topic.
3. we presented testimony and recommendations to the Commonwealth Transportation Advisory Committee on their 12-year plan, continuing to recommend closer links between land use and transportation planning.
4. We presented testimony and recommendations to the Department of Health on the State Health Improvement Plan.
5. We also organized a special Chesapeake Bay Tributary task Force to advise on matters of equity regarding implementation of state and federal policy initiatives for the Bay.
6. We administered the KOZ program for 14 municipalities in four counties, before turning that task over to CREDC.
7. We produced a report on Regional Policing and held a workshop which was attended by over 125 officials.
The Assembly has also adopted a major role as training and professional-education facilitators. We have produced a white paper and have hosted numerous workshops on the subject of predatory lending. We have conducted continuing-education workshops on code enforcement, planning and zoning.
The Assembly focuses on the broad scope of regional quality-of-life issues in South Central Pennsylvania. We offer services to the region which include conferences, research, advocacy and training on pressing issues facing our communities. Previous products include acclaimed studies on housing needs in Perry and Adams Counties, a Regional Predatory Lending Conference and a Regional Housing Expo, each drawing over 100 housing practitioners.
More recently, in support of our regional goals, the South Central Assembly has continued its role. The following highlights provide a snapshot of our recent accomplishments:
•Developed a Strategic Plan to provide direction for Assembly initiatives
•Improved communications through SCA Advisories and a new website
•Provided support for our regional partners at the Modern Transit Partnership (MTA), Penn Future, 10,000 Friends of PA, American Public Works Association (APWA), Penn State Harrisburg, and others.
•Worked with South central Team PA to transfer the KOZ Program, pairing their mutual economic development objectives
•Hosted "Food for Thought" workshops to provide quality training affordably for local governments
•Hosted a series of energy workshops to create a forum for exchanging ideas and challenges
•Hosted a series of health Insurance Workshops through the Central Pennsylvania Health Insurance Trust (CPHIT)
•Provided advocacy throughout our regional eight-county region
•Our Housing Committee has sponsored programs on an ongoing basis to spark discussion on key housing issues in the region