The recent surge of legislative acts at the federal level may cause significant changes in the economy, including the Pocono-Northeast.
These potential steps can led to a massive economy in coming years and decades, but much depends upon some bipartisan support across political aisles. In a recent article in the New York Times, writer Robinson Meyer has enhanced a discussion of items that should be evaluated regionally. He emphasizes the role of hydrogen with the investment of $8 billion in hydrogen “hubs” across the United States in the next decade and that the Inflation Reduction Act provides another pot of money, so that between several pieces of legislation, there are new sources of funds for energy and climate control.
These can have impact on this region. There are tax credits for hydrogen as well and add to the overall commitment for new themes related to economic development. Meyer suggests that few people know or understand the role of these acts and that the possibility of economic high capacity and a more robust economy is sought by President Biden and his administration.
The economy is one experiment defined by Meyer, however, he references a second as the same economy reliant on as industrial energy from extracting hydrocarbons from the ground and setting them on fire. Perhaps a new energy source can be continued as long as needed. These options are critical to the future. Like other legislation and differences in opinion between political parties, what happens from these acts remains to be seen. However, the pattern has been established by having infrastructure, inflation reduction and the CHIPS Act in place, which will affect the economy and this region. Meyer reflects that “in other countries, there are agile, entrepreneurial agencies that can get money to the right companies in the right ways — as a loan, as equity, as a purchase guarantee.” We have these tools in the nation, many of which are state, county and local. These resources are applied to many development opportunities that have led to industrial, business and technology parks that are vital to the regional economy. As the region changes, there probably will be more resources made available. In fact, it would be appropriate if a survey of all development resources were accomplished in the near term and published, as well as updated annually. Here are few steps that can be taken:
• Inventory what actions are taken in this region to encompass the extent to which development can take place in coming years.
• Focus attention on how development takes place and evaluate these resources as a way to bind growth in a planned way.
• Study the means by which the acts mentioned here can be implemented regionally and determine how various legislative acts can be utilized as effective tools for economic growth.
• Examine how charging stations for electric energy for autos can best be established across the region.
• Prepare plans for the various acts so that the region can take advantage of these resources.
• Prepare an industrial strategy based upon federal and state acts that can be best utilized regionally.
• Create regional task force on new economic initiatives such as those at the federal level and organize ways to apply them to regional development .
These steps, plus others, will help enhance the way the Pocono-Northeast will grow and prosper in a planned manner to meet the needs of over 1 million people in this region and the many others who work in the region. A planned economic growth and development strategy will lead to more jobs and employment opportunities across the Pocono-Northeast.