Bedford County Commissioners play a pivotal role in the economic development of Bedford County.
You may not see what they do on a day-to-day basis, but rest assured, the work is being done. Perhaps the most important thing they bring to the table is the call for cooperation throughout Bedford County.
“Everyone needs to work together,” said Commissioner Josh Lang. “We understand the important issues dealing with business and workforce development. It’s our job to support economic development in Bedford County as much as possible.”
Lang noted that he and his fellow commissioners serve on boards and economic commissions in order to promote economic development.
“The role that government can play is to support coordination and collaboration in the county. We have a voice and we also listen to input from the community. We can encourage people to work together and to prioritize projects,” he said.
Lang believes that Bedford County has a lot to offer
“We must continue to educate businesses and create a supportive environment for them,” Lang said. “We need to support a climate of entrepreneurship. We are competing against the whole world and the challenges are not unique to us.”
Lang thinks the commissioners should continue to create a dialogue with Bedford County citizens and continue to work with and improve the county’s comprehensive plan.
“We need to address some distressed areas in the county,” Lang said. “We need a diverse group to address economic development. We need to have ideas flow freely and accommodate innovation.”
Commissioner Paul Crooks also believes that working on the multi-county comprehensive plan is of importance. “Once the Bedford County’s plan is adopted, it will become a part of the Southern Alleghenies comprehensive plan. Having six counties merge their plans together and identify regional priorities will enhance funding opportunities,” Crooks noted. He also would like to restart the farmland preservation program in Bedford County.
Commissioner Barry Dallara noted “Bedford County real estate taxes are the lowest county real estate taxes in the state of Pennsylvania. Keeping taxes low continues to be a top priority.”
One way to keep taxes low is to continue to look for ways to reduce costs. “We have embraced green technology in Bedford County,” Dallara said. “We worked hard to secure a $900,698 grant to fund a new solar panel project. It is the largest of its kind in the county and will help to deliver significant cost savings to taxpayers.”