Intelligent Development of the Slate Belt
Following is a summary list of recommendations from the report accepted by the Slate Belt Council of Governments on 
June 25, 2008

• Pedestrian friendly communities
• Encourage the creation of bike paths to important destinations and downtown businesses
o Also provide bike racks at those destinations
• Form or expand on existing public transportation.
• Create effective parking signs for downtown areas
• Publicize scenic by-way routes such as those in Lower Mt. Bethel township
• Create a recreation facility guide to the Slate Belt area including a list of contacts
• Foster distinct character. Preserve historic buildings unique to that municipality. 
o Reuse and redevelop unused industrial buildings for potential businesses or industries
o Rather than strip malls encourage chain stores to be incorporated into existing downtown buildings.
o Use a revolving preservation loan. This will help locals restore and renovate historic buildings (which would keep the distinct character of the municipality). This would be paid back at a low interest rate generally over 10-20 years

• Upgrade regional infrastructure:
o Utilities- Make sure all are up to date. 
o Internet- Optimize service to all of the Slate Belt and upgrade the quality. 
o Roads- redirect truck traffic from downtown areas to cut on noise, and congestion. 
 Downtown roads are often difficult to navigate for large trucks
• Create 0.9 miles of new constructed road around Bangor to form an alternate 512 route for large trucks. 
• Preserve open space
• Improve transportation
• Enhance streetscapes
• Enhance and Preserve downtowns
o They are seen as the heart of each township or borough
o They are the mental picture we form in our head of each township or borough
• Save and guarantee open space for the future
• Promote resident input
o Projects fueled by resident input will reflect local needs and desires
o It will create a sense of personal investment in the area
 Example: Forks Action Committee
o Possibly have survey on COG website for better access
o Hold design competitions 
o Encourage local committees and groups to become involved in local preservation, also in mural designs. 
• Build on existing cooperation’s with: Residents, Boroughs and Townships, the COG, and economic development organizations. 
• Create a relationship with local Colleges and Universities and get them invested in the Slate Belt. 
o There are 10 colleges and universities in the Slate Belt region
 Cedar Crest College
 DeSales University 
 East Stroudsburg University
 Lafayette College
 Lehigh Carbon Community College
 Lehigh University
 Moravian College
 Muhlenberg College
 Northampton Community College
 Penn State Lehigh Valley
• A marketing of local products:
o To local universities. Local seasonable produce is used by universities such as Lafayette College.
o Work with local organizations and farmers to create a “buy local” initiative. This would lead to expand the land used for farming and less for urban sprawl. 
 Example: “Jersey fresh” stickers
o Strengthen the bond of the local farmers with local restaurants and shops
 Local businesses using local produce to sell and use
o Establish farmers markets for local farmers to profit from there crops
• Create incentives to help existing and possible winery’s in the area creating tourism
o Create wine tour maps to draw tourist from the Pocono’s 
• Create a Slate Belt Slogan
o Involve the community by having a local contest to create the slogan
 This would instill creativity in the neighborhood and a sense of community
o A broad underlining slogan for the Slate Belt will make the area more inviting. 
 Example: Sussex County New Jersey “where nature and people come together” 
• Create an inter-borough and township signage system that includes street signs distinct to the Slate Belt area with parks and other important markers to attract tourists and commerce
• Provide incentives for business to locate in appropriate sections of the Slate Belt, because heavy startup and infrastructural cost may deter potential business prospects, make possible business sites appealing to business prospects by: Appropriate initial infrastructure (have them “shovel ready”)
• To avoid urban sprawl promote cluster developments. This will save open space which could be used for parks, etc. 
• Promote the creation of offices in the Slate Belt that can act as a back up for Wall Street financial businesses.  “Wall Street West” to promote New York businesses having back up locations in the area.  With the amount of factories building not in use and available it could become a great fit.  Wall Street businesses have been considering locations for this type of office in Northeastern Pennsylvania which could include the Slate Belt.
• Invest in Alternative energy. 
o Example: Green Knights
o Promote such Alternative fuels such as bio-diesel. The area may be able to also vertically integrate bio-diesel production because of the suitable farming conditions for soybean crops which bio-diesel is made from. 
o Work with Waste Management to form Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Gasification systems (similar to the one created by Green Knights) which would create great economic benefit to the region by producing clean electricity

The Intelligent Redevelopment plan for the Slate Belt was prepared by the Lafayette College Technology Clinic.  This summary was created by Daniel Radom, student intern in Public Administration at the East Stroudsburg University.