Thirty-two counties, four states, one vision. That's the slogan of a group called the Power of 32. It's a two-year initiative that includes counties in Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The group has started gathering ideas by holding community conversations.
"This initiative is based first in the citizens and residents that are here in the community," said Selena Schmidt, executive director of Power of 32. "What we're working to do is to find out from the residents here, what do they want to see as part of thriving region? What makes us special? From there perspective. But not just what to they want, but what are our challenges, What are our assets, what are the possibilities?"
Those meetings will continue over the next two months. The next one locally will be 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Columbiana Public Library.
The power of 32 includes 4.2 million people in the region. The idea is to get that entire area on the same page as it prepares for the future.
"All of the information that we gather will then go to policy experts to create practical implimentable solutions for us to take to 2025," said Schmidt.
The concept is getting positive early reviews. Mercer County Commissioner Ken Ammann said anything that can get the attention of Washington to focus on the area, and specifically the economy, is a good thing.
"We think there is going to be some benefit," said Ammann. "And the more people we can get working on the economy, the better. The more influence we can have with some of our people in washington that we need to pay attention to what is going on in the economy and what it's going to take to improve it."
For more information on Power of 32,
click here.
