"Since 2001, the Department of Economic Development has funded the creation of plans for 234 municipalities. But its funding has dropped from $4 million last year to $370,000 in this year's budget.

"[The cuts] are harmful to communities because communities pulling together are able to attract resources more effectively than communities that plan alone," said Grant Ervin, regional director of 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania, an organization that promotes sustainable land use and local government empowerment."  To read the entire Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article, please click here.