Centre County Commissioners Discuss Ongoing Initiatives at 2026 State of the County, Presented by Northwest Bank

CENTRE COUNTY, PA – September 28, 2026 – The Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County (CBICC) held the annual State of the County Luncheon Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at the Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center in State College as part of the Chamber’s Voice of Business series. Facilitated by CBICC President and CEO Greg Scott, the event featured Centre County’s Board of Commissioners Mark Higgins (Chair), Amber Concepcion (Vice-Chair), and Steven Dershem, who provided insights and updates on developments, community initiatives, and the local economy in Centre County. An audience Q&A followed the Commissioners’ presentation.

Greg Scott, CBICC President & CEO, opened the event sharing that, “An essential partner in all the Centre County Economic Development work has been Centre County government and our three County Commissioners. Over the past year, we’ve worked together on air service initiatives, attainable housing programs, workforce connections, funding opportunities, and many other efforts. There is certainly more work ahead, but we should take a moment to recognize the progress being made and, more importantly, recognize that this progress is the result of so many people and organizations working together on these initiatives.”

The Commissioners began with an overview of the local economic growth, including $8.77 million in export sales, $5.79 million in government contracts, and $5.42 million in business loans, along with a $1.235 million competitive grant for the Eagle Creek Sewer Project, according to SEDA-COG's 2025 County Impact Report. They also shared quality-of-life indicators that reflect the strength of the community, such as Centre County's life expectancy, the highest in Pennsylvania according to the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.

Commissioner Concepcion shared, “When looking at the life expectancy in Centre County, and using this as a proxy for thinking about quality of life, health, and well-being of our community, we can see that Centre County is well above the statewide average for life expectancy. This really represents the socioeconomics of Centre County, but also the way that all our organizations in terms of non-profits and our medical systems work together to ensure that we have as much as possible.”

The Commissioners further discussed the partnerships expanding access to Centre County, highlighting the State College Air Service Alliance's role in securing nonstop American Airlines service to Charlotte beginning in October 2026, and the growing outdoor recreation economy, including the continued success of IRONMAN in Happy Valley, led by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau (HVAB), and trail expansion through partnerships with HVAB and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. They also discussed county development and housing projects, including Cascade Development in Benner Township, the Robert Kepler Memorial Pool in Bellefonte, and the Centre Hall Library, as well as County housing programs that have created or preserved more than 140 dwelling units.

Commissioner Higgins addressed housing, sharing that, “Years ago during COVID we found that what's really missing in Centre County is what they call the missing middle, and that is everything between a single-family home and a high-rise apartment. With the recent developments like Cascade near the airport where there are about 146 townhomes and College Township, which will soon be putting in hundreds of additional residential units, a lot of the Central Region municipalities have been working on affordability and more homes for the average income level.”

Commissioners provided updates on the County's forward-thinking approach to community services and criminal justice, including the new Community Services Building (CSB), a centralized hub for the County's human services departments that enables stronger partnerships, and evidence-based programs that better support residents in need of support.

Leah Raker, Director of Children and Youth Services for Centre County, joined the Commissioners for the presentation. Raker shared testimonies from her own and other employees’ experience working in the building, noting how the human services departments can provide services in a more collaborative and streamlined way. She also highlighted different features of the building—such as the visitation suites, which function as small apartments for supervised parent-child visits and education spaces—that are innovative and proving useful for providing services to families.

Looking ahead, they acknowledged the challenges facing the County, from ongoing fiscal pressure, which the County is addressing by pursuing new funding sources and leveraging partnerships with Penn State, CBICC, the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, and state agencies.

The Commissioners closed their presentation by addressing recent storm damage that affected roads and buildings across the county, noting the important work of emergency response agencies.

“The recent storm in eastern Centre County was devastating for the families and business owners who saw their homes and livelihoods damaged or destroyed," said Commissioner Dershem. "Events like these are something we remain prepared for, and having strong government services and systems in place ensures that when catastrophe strikes, our community has the support it needs to recover and rebuild."

The annual State of the County Luncheon serves as an important platform for CBICC members and the Centre County business community to engage with local officials and gain a comprehensive understanding of ongoing and future initiatives impacting business locally, regionally, and nationally.

The CBICC’s Voice of Business series continues to provide a platform for meaningful discussions on the issues shaping Centre County.

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About CBICC

The Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County (CBICC) is a dynamic membership organization that champions the interests of private and public organizations. As the region’s leading economic development entity, CBICC is committed to cultivating a vibrant business landscape by driving economic development, stimulating job creation, and fostering innovation.