PHOTO PROVIDED The speakers and panelists at Centre County’s recent housing summit are from left to right: Ray Stolinas, Mike Bloom, Ara Kervandjian, Stephanie Fost, Brian Hudson, Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins, Michael Fry, Morgan Boyd and Greg Scott.

BELLEFONTE — On Wednesday, March 4, Centre County Government in coordination with the Chamber of Business and Industry (CBICC) and the Centre County Housing Task Force (HTF) hosted a housing summit.

Bringing together regional leaders, housing experts, developers, employers and community stakeholders, the summit aimed to address increasing demands for affordable and workforce housing in Centre County.

The summit focused on aligning local initiatives with state and federal housing programs to identify strategies for expanding housing for low- and moderate-income residents and strengthening economic competitiveness.

“When working people can’t find housing they can afford, employers can’t hire, businesses can’t expand and communities struggle to remain vibrant,” noted Commissioner Mark Higgins in his opening remarks.

STATE HOUSING LEADERS OUTLINE PENNSYLVANIA’S HOUSING STRATEGY

The summit began with expert-led informational sessions to provide updates on policy developments and highlight relevant state and federal tools.

Morgan Boyd, special assistant to the secretary for the Pa. Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), provided an update on its recently adopted Final Housing Plan. She spoke to stakeholders about the state’s intentions and plans for various housing programs.

Brian Hudson, former executive director and CEO of PA Housing Finance Agency, delivered remarks on state and federal credits tied to various housing programs. Hudson also offered Pennsylvania-specific case studies as concrete demonstrations of the need for and impacts of affordable housing in Pennsylvania communities.

Finally, Stephanie Fost, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Greater Centre County, offered a local perspective on the state of housing initiatives within the county. Although Fost spoke openly about the challenges associated with expanding affordable workforce housing, she remained optimistic about collaborative efforts expanding opportunities for attainable homeownership.

LOCAL LEADERS ADDRESS HOUSING NEEDS AND

ECONOMIC IMPACT

Following the informational sessions, the summit shifted to a panel discussion featuring local stakeholders Ara Kervandjian, Ray Stolinas, Mike Bloom and Michael Fry, moderated by CBICC President and CEO, Greg Scott.

“Championing attainable housing is central to economic development in Centre County, and is an issue outlined clearly in our community’s Economic Development Strategic Plan,” remarked Scott. “Our hope is to better understand both the challenges and the opportunities we have as we work to expand affordable and attainable housing in our region, and this conversation is the first step.”

The panel discussion further explored the needs of the County and the effects of limited housing, such as stagnation to broader community and economic development in the area.

College Township Supervisor Mike Bloom and Director of Centre County Planning and Community Development Ray Stolinas situated these concerns within the context of trends and initiatives in the Centre Region.

BUILDING

MOMENTUM FOR HOUSING SOLUTIONS

The summit concluded with a strong sense of collaboration and shared responsibility. Attendees were able to identify opportunities to leverage state programs, streamline local processes and strengthen partnerships.

A clear takeaway emerged from the evening: expanding affordable and workforce housing will play a vital role in sustaining Centre County’s economic vitality. Organizers of the event shared a sense of optimism that the summit would be a catalyst for coordinating action to make progress in the future, they said.

The housing summit was recorded by CNET, Centre County’s public government and education access network, and is available for viewing at https://u.peg.tv/s/iwlin8. The housing summit will air at the following times on C-NET Channel 7: Monday, March 9, at 1 p.m.; Tuesday, March 10, at 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.; Wednesday, March 11, at 3 p.m.; and Friday, March 13, at 5 p.m.