The Pathway to Prosperity initiative is based on the premise that building support for reforms in Harrisburg depends on success at the regional level -- organizing regional constituencies to impact state policy; providing tools for local leaders to problem-solve and construct effective and successful entrepreneurial regional cooperation that serve as statewide models; and highlighting and promoting research that explains the challenges and impacts of maintaining the status quo as well as the values and efficiencies of modernizing local government services.

In late 2007, 10,000 Friends began this effort by organizing the Path to Prosperity summit for 250 invited leaders from around the state to find common ground in our efforts to build competitive regional economies, to make reinvestment in our infrastructure a priority, and to empower our local governments.  Since then, we have been busy developing and implementing the next stage of this project: building support for reforms in Harrisburg through success at the regional level.

We have been developing relationships and building capacity in communities around Pennsylvania that have been identified as ripe for regional success. So far, 10,000 Friends staff has made key contacts in these selected communities and convened informal steering committee meetings. Our goal is to assist local leaders to develop local strategies to address local issues. We hope to make it easier for local governments to cooperate in delivering essential services, thereby helping them maintain the quality of their services while avoiding unsustainable cost escalations. It is our belief that models for statewide reform will emerge out of these local examples to address issues facing many of Pennsylvania's communities.

This web page will serve as a clearinghouse for resources that will be helpful for regional leaders.  We will provide access to the latest information show how communities can work together to benefit their entire region.  Also, we will continue to track important legislation that may have an impact on these regional efforts.