Employees will not experience layoffs or downsizing while the region will retain and increase economic activity from the center. The environment will benefit from the reuse of land and buildings for new businesses and growth that controls sprawl. Best of all, this is good for the residents because they can continue to get centralized care and oversight in a community setting where normal business, family, and community activities occur. To be successful, a planning process is needed that is democratic and participatory, which includes all stakeholders, from family members of residents, employee unions, local residents, and municipal officials to state officials. The process will need leadership, creative planning, and imagination.
Good planning raises many questions and perhaps some doubt or skepticism.
However, the planning process also generates more ideas, possibilities, and enthusiasm. Without any other plan in place, one plan is much better than no plan at all. Mike Molesevich is the former mayor of Lewisburg and is an environmental consultant. He serves on the board of directors of the PA Environmental Council, and was a member of the Selinsgrove Center Task Force.