BELLEFONTE — Centre County commissioners are backing a plan to turn central Pennsylvania into the nation’s “Sensor Valley,” a hub for spectroscopy, ultrasound and chromatography technologies.

On Tuesday, the commissioners issued a letter supporting a grant application to advance Project SUCCEED (Sensors, Ultrasound and Chromatography for Collaborative Economic Expansion and Development), an initiative local economic development groups hope will help revitalize the region’s lagging economy.

The grant application is a joint effort of SEDA-COG, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern PA (BFTP-CNP) and the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County (CBICC). Todd Dolbin, CBICC’s VP of Economic Development, represented the group at the commissioners’ meeting.

“Project Succeed is an effort that positions Centre County and our surrounding region of central Pa. as a national leader in sensor technologies,” Dolbin said.

The partners are applying for an Appalachian Regional Commission POWER Grant. The grants are part of a federal program designed to support economic growth in communities affected by the decline of extractive industry.

Dolbin says the funds would be used to support workforce development in local rural communities by engaging schools, fostering innovation among early-stage startups and growing the region’s reputation as a hub for sensor technology.

One of the objectives of Project SUCCEED is to leverage access to the state’s research infrastructure and talent pipeline, Mifflin County’s industrial manufacturing base and the strong local labor force to help commercialize and scale sensor, ultrasound and chromatography technologies.

“We have a very strong competitive advantage in the sensor technology industries,” explained Dolbin, whose organization identified the sector as a local strength in its countywide strategic plan.

According to Dolbin, the region’s sensor technology industry is unusually concentrated, with six times the national average of businesses.

Commissioner Mark Higgins suggested this is because researchers at Penn State pioneered many of these technologies, which have since been spun off to businesses in the surrounding community.

Centre County commissioners said the region is well-positioned to remain a leader in the sensor technology industries and expressed optimism about the potential benefits for the community.

“This demonstrates that we have strengths that a lot of folks don’t appreciate, or maybe know (about),” said Commissioner Steve Dershem.

Historically, Centre County has received about half of the Appalachian Regional Commission grants it applied for.

“If we get this one, that would be tremendous,” Higgins said, noting that the county is seeking additional backing from congressional leaders to support Project Succeed, which they contend will create jobs for a broad range of local businesses.

Federal representatives did not respond by press time.