Meetings focus on region’s future

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January 21, 2009

By SHAWN PIATEK The Tribune-Democrat Wed Jan 21, 2009, 11:39 PM EST

Phase one of the 20/20 Regional Vision Project is complete, and organizers of the venture are now taking to the road for phase two.

Nearly 3,000 people responded to an online survey asking how the Johnstown region can become more attractive to young professionals.

Preliminary results have been issued, but the information still needs to be analyzed.

The next step will be meeting with young professionals next month at three Next Cities Cafes.

Organizers are encouraging all to attend so they can share their ideas through the town-hall-like meetings.

Sessions are scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. as follows: Feb. 9 in the Community Room at the Ebensburg Borough Building, 300 W. High St.; Feb. 10 at Crazy Alice’s Cafe, 101 W. Main St., Somerset; and Feb. 11 at the Holiday Inn, 250 Market St., downtown Johnstown.

“You only need to attend one event to contribute to this process,” said Debra Orner, vice president of the Greater Johnstown/Cambria County Chamber of Commerce, which is organizing the project along with Young Professionals of the Alleghenies (YPA).

Next Generation Consulting of Wisconsin is conducting the study.

“We’re trying to make it as easy as possible for people to attend, which is why we’re having the meetings in three locations.”

Information collected from the cafes will be used along with survey results to formulate a plan for the region. That plan is to be released in April.

“We will provide an exciting and dynamic forum for everyone to put their ideas into a concerted plan for our region,” said Mike Hruska, co-chairman of YPA’s business committee. “All who are interested in exploring ideas to define the vision for our regional community are encouraged to attend.”

While the full results of the survey and what they mean are not ready, organizers said the preliminary results were pleasantly surprising.

For instance, more than 20 percent of the respondents are former local residents now living outside the region. Among that demographic, almost half said they have considered moving back to the region.

The survey hit the target demographics as the vast majority of the respondents, 85.5 percent, were members of Generation X (27 to 47 years old) or the Millennial Generation (18 to 26 years old).

The respondents also were well-educated, with 58 percent holding a four-year degree or better.

And they are accomplished professionally, with more than 45 percent having seven years or more of professional experience.

“We were impressed by the education level and professional attainment level of the people who responded,” Orner said.

“And we were quite pleased to see that we reached a large number of people who could be influenced to move back to the region.”

To register to attend one of next month’s cafes, send an e-mail to info@2020regionalvision.com and include the location of the event you would like to attend.

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