2019 Indicator's Report - The Institute for Public Policy & … · 2019. 5. 29. · In 2017, there were 13,000 business establishments in the region, 5 percent fewer than a decade

2019

Indicators Report

L A C K A W A N N A A N D

L U Z E R N E C O U N T Y

A collaboration among Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Johnson College, Keystone College, King’s College, Lackawanna College, Luzerne County Community College, Marywood University, Misericordia University, Penn State Scranton, Penn State Wilkes-Barre,

The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, University of Scranton and Wilkes University

The Institute is a non-profit research organization dedicated to empowering business and community leaders with research based strategies for informed decision making. We conduct independent, non-biased research to identify the opportunities, issues and challenges unique to the region and find innovative solutions to help solve the problems facing our communities. The Institute also offers a wide array of research, consulting and support services to help organizations boost productivity, increase profitability and be successful in their missions.

www.institutepa.org [email protected] 570.408.9850

Research areas include: • demographics• economic development • community development• education• energy• government• health & health care• housing

• industry• infrastructure• land use • planning• public safety• tourism and arts & culture• transportation• workforce development

The Institute prepares the following products:• Arts & Culture Studies• Economic & Demographic Profiles• Economic Development Strategies • Economic and Tax Impact Studies• Education Studies• Feasibility and Market Studies• Housing Studies • Indicators – Indexes

• Industry Studies• Needs Assessments• Policy Analysis • Program Evaluation Support • Project Analyses and Monitoring • Research Validation and Peer Review • Tourism Strategic Plans • Workforce Studies

A collaboration among Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Keystone College, King’s College, Lackawanna College, Luzerne County Community College, Marywood University,

Misericordia University, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, The Wright Center, University of Scranton & Wilkes University

The Instituteat Wilkes University

Turning Information Into Insight

Outcomes

Strategies

Research &Data





Outcomes

Strategies

Research &Data

Research InternsTeri Ooms, Executive DirectorAndrew Chew, Senior Research & Policy Analyst Christopher Ritter, Research Analyst Joe Gallo, Research Assistant Kara McGrane, Research AssistantJill Avery Stoss, Research, Data, and Intern CoordinatorSusan Magnotta, Community Outreach Director

Research InternsSaidat Sanni, Graduate AssistantRima AvasatthiJacob James BarberLiliana Cepeda

A collaboration among Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Johnson College, Keystone College, King’s College, Lackawanna College, Luzerne County Community College, Marywood University, Misericordia University, Penn State Scranton,

Penn State Wilkes-Barre, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, University of Scranton & Wilkes University

Acknowledgements We would like to acknowledge The Institute’s Advisory Board for its time, effort, and commitment to this region:

Heather AckerGentex Corporation

Ron Beer, MHA, FACHEGeisinger Health System

Thomas Botzman, Ph.D.Misericordia University

Don BrominskiUGU Utilities

Tracy Brundage, Ph.D.Keystone College

Terry CaseyChancellor Financial Group

Cornelio CatenaCommonwealth Health Systems

John CefalyCushman & Wakefield

Tom CurraWVIA Public Media

Robert DurkinScranton Chamber of Commerce

Dale Jones, Ph.D.Penn State – Wilkes-Barre

Charles KaskoSimplex Homes

Thomas E. LawsonBorton Lawson

Thomas LearyLuzerne County Community College

Robert LucianiPrudential Retirement Services

Kevin O’DonnellGreater Hazleton CAN DO

Sister Mary Persico, IHM Ph.D.Marywood University

Scott Pilarz, S.J., Ph.D.University of Scranton

Alana RobertsPPL Electric Utilities

Eugene RothRosenn Jenkins Greenwald

Jack Ryan, C.S.C. Ph.D.King’s College

Steven Scheinman, MDGeisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

Bill SordoniSordoni Construction

Matt SordoniSordoni Construction

Linda Thomas-Hemak, MDThe Wright Center for Community Health & Graduate Medical Education

Marleen Troy, Ph.D.Wilkes University

Wico van GenderenGreater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business & Industry

Lucyann VierlingWayne Pike Workforce Alliance

Mark VolkLackawanna College

Marwan Wafa, Ph.D.Penn State Scranton

Tara WilsonPower Engineering Corp.

State Senator John Yudichak

Chairman – Patrick Leahy, Ed.D., Wilkes UniversityVice Chairman – Frank Joanlanne, Borton Lawson

A collaboration among Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Johnson College, Keystone College, King’s College, Lackawanna College, Luzerne County Community College, Marywood University,

Misericordia University, Penn State Scranton, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, University of Scranton & Wilkes University

What We BelieveAt The Institute, we believe that empowering leaders with the research-based strategies and solutions they need to make informed decisions will lead to a stronger regional economy and a better quality of life for residents. For over a decade, The Institute has worked behind the scenes to support initiatives that advance regional competitiveness and revitalize communities.

Thank You to Our Generous Research UnderwritersWe would like to take this opportunity to thank our generous stakeholders who share our vision for a better, stronger Northeastern Pennsylvania and whose financial support makes our community based research and events like The Indicators possible.

Signature UnderwritersAndrew J. Sordoni Foundation

Luzerne County

PPL Electric Utilities

Sordoni Family Foundation

Contributing UnderwritersBorton-Lawson

Commonwealth Health Systems

Geisinger Health System

Mohegan Sun Pocono

Supporting UnderwritersBerkshire Asset Management

BlackOut Design

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

Navient

NET Credit Union

Riggs Asset Management

Sanofi Pasteur

The Wright Center for Community Health

UGI Utilities

Wells Fargo Foundation

Academic PartnersGeisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

Johnson College

Keystone College

King’s College

Lackawanna College

Luzerne County Community College

Marywood University

Misericordia University

Penn State Scranton

Penn State Wilkes-Barre

The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education

University of Scranton

Wilkes University





Outcomes

Strategies

Research &Data





Outcomes

Strategies

Research &Data

A collaboration among Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Johnson College, Keystone College, King’s College, Lackawanna College, Luzerne County Community College, Marywood University,

Misericordia University, Penn State Scranton, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, University of Scranton & Wilkes University

Lackawanna and Luzerne County Indicators

Regional Dashboard 2019

Population

Innovation Labor Market

The Region’s Economy

The region’s labor market has improved in recent years. The unemployment rate has fallen by more than 4 points since 2012.

STEM employment in both counties remains largely stable. STEM jobs are key

components of several prominent industries in the

regional economy.

In 2017, there were 13,000 business establishments in the region, 5 percent fewer than a decade ago. However, the rate of job growth has accelerated. The regional GDP is growing, but at a slower rate than statewide.

Business & Industry Income & Poverty

Between 2013 and 2017, Lackawanna and Luzerne counties added over 6,800 jobs.

Regional poverty has improved and the rate of income growth has increased in the last several years.

Housing

As of 2017, about 1 in 5 residents was age 65 or older. The region has also grown more diverse, with increases in Afri-can-American, Asian, and Hispanic/Latino residents.

Population Change since 2000

Statewide: + 4.2 % - 1.2 %

- 0.6 %

Luzerne

Lackawanna Pennsylvania

Regional GDP

$23.7B 2.2% real

annual growth (4.4% statewide)

Per Capita Income

Overall Poverty Rate

18.3 %

2,331

$135,540

30.9 % Homeowner Costs as a Percent of Median Income

Gross Rent as a Percent of Median Income

For Sale Inventory

Median List Price

248,675

Regional Population: 528,104

Total Housing Units:

+ 2%

+ 12%

Regional Housing Statistics & Change from Prior Year

+ 1%

- 1%

Regionally, high school graduation rates have fluctuated but have generally been higher than Pennsylvania as a whole, as shown in the chart. Higher education insti-tutions awarded 8,639 degrees, certificates, and other awards in 2016-2017.

Lackawanna and Luzerne County Indicators

Turning Information into Insight

Environment Tonnage of recycled materials has increased across several major categories The region is home to 7% of Pennsylvania’s abandoned mine land sites, 29% of its coal refuse

sites, and 50% of 2017 abandoned mine land revitalization pilot projects. Air quality in the region is consistently in healthy ranges

Behavioral health issues remain a significant challenge. The rate of tobacco smoking is above average: 25 percent of the adult population versus 18 percent statewide. Opioid abuse is also prolific, as shown below:

Public Health & Safety Criminal Justice Behavioral Health

Education Civic Engagement

Regional Nonprofits by Type

Total organizations, 2018: 2,072

Regional HS Graduation Rate 2016-2017

LAC LUZ PA

LAC

LUZ

PA

Opioid Prescribing Rate 2017

Overdose Death Rate 2017

Regional Violent Crime & Drug Offenses

Violent crime rates have remained within a relatively nar-row range, while drug abuse offenses reported to police grew significantly from 2012 to 2016.

Drug Abuse Offenses

Violent Crimes

Table of Contents

©2019 The Institute, All Rights Reserved.

Regional Dashboard

Demographics .................................................................... 2Population, Migration & Birth Rates ................................ 3Age Distribution .................................................................... 4Racial & Ethnic Diversity .................................................... 5Change in Household Size ................................................... 6Single Parent Households .................................................... 6Grandparents Raising Grandchildren ............................... 7Ratio of Children to Seniors ............................................... 7Seniors Living Alone ............................................................. 8

Jobs & Economy................................................................ 10Unemployment Rate & Labor Force ................................. 11Household Income ................................................................ 12Income by Sources ................................................................. 13Per Capita Income ................................................................. 14Aggregate Personal Income.................................................. 14Poverty ..................................................................................... 15Employment by Occupation ............................................... 16Average Annual Pay ............................................................... 16Job Growth to Population Growth .................................... 17Distribution of Jobs by Industry ......................................... 18Number of Employees & Establishments ......................... 19Deed Transactions ................................................................. 20Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ........................................ 20Exports by Industry ............................................................... 21Tourism Spending .................................................................. 22Student Debit ......................................................................... 23Federal Funding...................................................................... 24

Education ............................................................................. 26Four Year Cohort Graduation Rate ................................... 28School Enrollment ................................................................. 29Career and Technical Education ......................................... 30Advanced Placement Courses ............................................. 31Charter Schools ...................................................................... 31School Assessment ................................................................. 32Education Employment ........................................................ 33Special Education ................................................................... 34Public School Dropouts ....................................................... 34SAT Scores............................................................................... 35Higher Educational Attainment ......................................... 36Degree Completions ............................................................. 36Student-Teacher Ratio .......................................................... 37Pre-K Enrollment ................................................................... 38

Technology & Innovation ............................................ 40STEM Occupations .............................................................. 41STEM-Based Industries ....................................................... 42SBIR/STTR Awards ............................................................. 43National Science Foundation (NSF) ................................. 43Clinical Trials .......................................................................... 44Venture Capital Investments ............................................... 44Patents Issued .......................................................................... 44

Housing ................................................................................. 46Demand for New Homes ..................................................... 47Building Permits & Construction Costs .......................... 47Occupancy & Vacancy .......................................................... 48Housing Tenure ...................................................................... 48Housing and Rental Affordability ...................................... 49Housing Value ........................................................................ 50Housing Density .................................................................... 51Mortgage Activity .................................................................. 52Home Sales .............................................................................. 53Foreclosure .............................................................................. 53Homelessness .......................................................................... 54

Social Services .................................................................... 56Early Childhood Education................................................. 57Children Living in Poverty .................................................. 57Children in Foster Care ........................................................ 58Food Assistance ...................................................................... 58Cash Assistance ...................................................................... 59Medical Assistance & CHIP ............................................... 59Programs for Seniors ............................................................. 60Individuals with Disabilities ................................................ 61Tax Credits .............................................................................. 62 Health & Healthcare ....................................................... 64Cancer & Heart Disease ....................................................... 65Obesity ..................................................................................... 65Infant Mortality Rate ............................................................ 66Death of Children Under Five ............................................ 66Childhood Lead Poisoning .................................................. 67Suicide Rate ............................................................................. 67Opioid Overdose Deaths ..................................................... 68Alcohol and Tobacco ............................................................ 68Hospitals .................................................................................. 69Long Term Care Facilities .................................................... 69Teen Pregnancy ...................................................................... 70Health Insurance Coverage ................................................. 70

Civic Engagement ............................................................ 72Non-Profit Organizations .................................................... 73Non-Profit Organizations by Activity Type ..................... 74Library Registration & Circulation ................................... 75Voter Registration & Participation .................................... 76Veterans .................................................................................... 78 Government ........................................................................ 80Lackawanna County Fiscal Snapshot ................................ 80Luzerne County Fiscal Snapshot ........................................ 81Property Tax Rates................................................................. 81Sales Tax ................................................................................... 82Community Investment ....................................................... 82

Public Safety ....................................................................... 84Property Crime ....................................................................... 85Violent Crime ......................................................................... 86Drug Abuse Offenses ............................................................ 87DUI Offenses.......................................................................... 88Alcohol Related Crash Deaths ............................................ 88Motor Vehicle Crashes.......................................................... 89Offenses Against Children & Families .............................. 90Police & Fire Departments .................................................. 91School Safety/Juvenile Arrests ............................................ 92

Environment ....................................................................... 94Recycling.................................................................................. 94Waste Facilities ....................................................................... 95 Brownfields.............................................................................. 95Abandoned Mine Lands ....................................................... 96Air Quality .............................................................................. 97Water Quality ......................................................................... 98

Infrastructure ..................................................................... 100Transportation Mobility ...................................................... 101Traffic Counts ......................................................................... 102Bridges ...................................................................................... 102Motor Vehicle Registrations ................................................ 103Home Heating Fuels ............................................................. 104Energy Price Trends ............................................................... 105Airport ..................................................................................... 105Internet Access ....................................................................... 106

Dem

ogra

phic

s

“Lackawanna County’s population decreased slightly since 2016, but Luzerne County's has increased slightly.”

Demographics

Demographics The first section of the Indicators report covers demographics – the size and composition of the two counties’ populations. The tables that follow present data for Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The section reports on population, age distribution, birth rates, ethnic diversity, and the change in household size, as well as other important characteristics of the demographic makeup of the area.

The U.S. Census is the most accurate measure of population for a given geographic area. It is conducted once every ten years, most recently in 2010. The recorded populations in both counties decreased from 1990 to 2000, but increased slightly from 2000 to 2010. For more current population data, the American Community Survey is used as an estimate of population. Since 2010, both counties have seen slight declines in their populations.

There are three components of population change – births, deaths, and migration. According to the latest data, birth rates in both Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties have fluctuated from year to year but remain lower than in the Commonwealth as a whole. Migration data is sourced from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Though both counties experienced times of significant net inflow driven by migration into the region from neighboring states, this trend has reversed since 2012. In recent years, more residents are leaving the region than entering, with higher outflow in Lackawanna County. Still, Luzerne County’s net migration over the last ten years is a +2,250 as of 2016, compared with Lackawanna County’s net loss of over 4,000 in the same period. Unfortunately, new data was not available in time for inclusion in this year’s Indicators report.

The age distribution of the two counties mirrored statewide trends rather closely. However, older adults comprise a larger share of the population locally compared with the Commonwealth, and children make up a slightly smaller share. This pattern has not drastically changed over the last several years. The relatively low ratio of children to senior citizens indicates potential challenges on the region’s future workforce, because there will be fewer residents to fill jobs as a large number of Baby Boomers retire. Furthermore, the longer lifespan of many of today’s seniors means that there will be an increased need for support services for older adults.

Although about 90 percent of Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties’ total population has been White/Caucasian, the percentage of residents who are White/Caucasian alone has generally declined since 2000. The two counties have seen increasing racial and ethnic diversity. The growth of the Hispanic/Latino population has been considerable, doubling over the last decade and now eclipsing the statewide percentage in both counties. The percentage of Asian Americans in both counties has also grown substantially since 2000.

Accurate statistics on population will continue to be of significant importance when it comes to apportionment of legislative representation, allocation of state and federal funds, and generally remaining competitive as a region. The next complete census will be conducted in 2020, and a complete enumeration of the region’s population is critical. Several communities in both counties have been designated by the Census Bureau as Hardest to Count, meaning that the mail return rate for census forms has been in the bottom 20 percentile for all communities.

2 Demographics

Population & Migration Birth Rates

PopulationIn 2017, Lackawanna County experienced a small decrease in estimated population, and Luzerne County’s estimated population increased slightly for the first time since 2012. The population in both counties is estimated to have fallen from the 2010 census, which had shown an increase from the previous census in 2000. Statewide, population has grown slowly but consistently, with the exception of a slight decline in 2016.

MigrationNew data on migration patterns from the Internal Revenue Service was not available for inclusion in this year’s report. The most recent data, for 2015-2016, show that while Lackawanna County has experienced a net loss of 4,022 residents between 2006 and 2016, Luzerne County has experienced a net gain of 2,250 residents. Both counties, however, have consistently had a net loss of population through migration since 2012. This is a reversal of the in-migration trend that was most prevalent from 2006 to 2008.

Birth RatesLackawanna County’s birth rate has fluctuated, and in 2017 fell to its lowest level since 2012. It remains similar to the birth rate in that county in 2000. In Luzerne County, there has been a gradual increase in the birth rate, which was 20.5 in 2017 – an increase of over 12 percent since 2000. Statewide, the birth rate has declined each year since 2014, and has fallen by eight percent since 2000.

“Birth rates in Lackawanna County have

decreased, but those

in Luzerne County have increased.”

Demographics 3

Age DistributionFor the period of 2013 to 2017, the top age category in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties and in Pennsylvania was generally 45 to 54 years. Statewide, however, this share of the population is nearly matched by the 25 to 34 age group.

Across all three geographies, the share of population aged 60 or older has increased. This age group accounts for 26.8 percent of the population in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties and 24.7 percent statewide. This share of the population may continue to increase, given the growing share of “future seniors” aged 55 to 59 years.

In both counties and statewide, growth in the population aged 20 to 34 years reflects the relatively large size of the Millennial generation. This age group comprises 18.5 percent of the population in Lackawanna County, 19.3 percent in Luzerne County, and 19.7 percent statewide.

Age Distribution

“The share of the population aged 60 and older continues to increase.”

4 Demographics

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Racial & Ethnic Diversity Ethnic diversity has increased in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties as well as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In all three geographic areas, the percentage of non-white residents has increased considerably over the last five years and compared to the 2000 census, though the most recent data showed a minimal increase in the proportion White/Caucasian residents in Lackawanna County.

The percentage of Asian-American residents in Lackawanna County has more than tripled since 2000. Luzerne County saw its share of Asian-American residents increase from 0.6 percent to 1.4 percent. Both counties have also experienced large increases in their percentages of multiracial residents since 2000. The proportion of African-American residents in Lackawanna County has grown from 1.3 percent in 2000 to 2.7 percent in 2017, though down from a peak in 2014. In Luzerne County, African-Americans made up 4.9 percent of the population in 2017, up from 1.7 percent in 2000 and 4.4 percent in 2016.

The Hispanic/Latino population as a total percentage of the population for Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties and Pennsylvania has increased significantly since 2000. In Lackawanna County, Hispanics accounted for 1.4 percent of the total population in 2000; by 2017, that percentage increased to 7.5 percent. Luzerne County’s Hispanic/Latino population accounted for 1.2 percent of all county residents in 2000; by 2017, that percentage increased to 11.8 percent. In Pennsylvania, from 2000 to 2017, the Hispanic population increased at a slower but still substantial pace. While Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties have historically been less diverse than the state as a whole, the percentage of Hispanic/Latino residents in both counties has overtaken that of the Commonwealth.

“Both counties have experienced large increases in their

percentages of multiracial residents.”

Demographics 5

Single Parent FamiliesAs of 2017 in Lackawanna County, single-parent households with minor children comprise about 8.7 percent of all households. In Luzerne County, 9.4 percent of households consist of single parents with minor children. This appears to represent a significant increase since the 2000 census – at least among female single-parent households, which stood at around 5.5 percent of all households at that time. Data on male single parent households was not available in 2000.

About three-quarters of single-parent households are headed by women. Between 2016 and 2017, the percentages of male- and female-headed single-parent households increased in Lackawanna County, decreased in Luzerne County, and held steady at the state level.

“About three-quarters of single-parent households are headed by women.”

Household SizeThe average household size has fluctuated minimally for Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, as well as for Pennsylvania. In 2017, the mean household size for both counties was around 2.4 – slightly lower than the number in the previous year. For both counties, the household size remains below the statewide average of 2.47.

Change in Household Size Single Parent Families

6 Demographics

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren While data for Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties are difficult to examine because many years were not available for Lackawanna County, the number of grandparents raising grandchildren has significantly fluctuated in Pennsylvania over the period examined. Statewide, the number of grandparents raising grandchildren has fallen each year since 2013, declining by over 18 percent in that period.

Luzerne County experienced a more modest decline in grandparents raising grandchildren during that time. Data for Lackawanna County is limited, but the estimated 959 grandparent-grandchild households in 2017 is about half of the number from the previous year.

8 Demographics

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Ratio of Children to Elders

Ratio of Children to Seniors The ratio of children to seniors is one measure of the population dynamics of a region. A ratio of children to seniors is below 1.0 suggests that the replacement rate to maintain steady population is not being met (before accounting for the effects of migration). However, a falling ratio can also indicate that as adults live longer into advanced age, seniors make up a larger share of the population compared to other age cohorts. The ratio of children to seniors has shown a downward trend in both counties since 2013, with the exception of a small increase in Lackawanna County in 2017. The statewide ratio has followed the same trend, with that ratio falling below 1.0 for the first time in 2016 and continuing downward in 2017.

“The number of grandparents

raising grandchildren is declining.”

Demographics 7

“Two-thirds of more than 31,000 seniors living alone in the region are female.”

Seniors Living Alone The number of senior citizens aged 65 years or older living alone fluctuated in the periods examined for all three areas. In 2017, Lackawanna County experienced an increase of seniors living alone compared with the prior year (from 11,958 to 13,620). Luzerne County experienced a decrease from 19,512 to 18,605. Two-thirds of more than 31,000 seniors living alone in the region are female.

Seniors Living Alone

8 Demographics

Jobs

& E

cono

my

Jobs & Economy

“The region has experienced some net job growth over the last few years, as evidenced by a falling unemployment rate and an increase in total jobs.”

Jobs & EconomyThe Jobs and Economy section of this report summarizes important economic indicators in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties and in Pennsylvania as a whole. The last decade or so has been an era of economic change, including the downturn of the housing market and subsequent “Great Recession.” There has also been increased automation in many industries, as well as shifts toward transportation, distribution, and e-commerce. All of these factors have impacted the region, so understanding economic indicators is of tremendous importance. The trends in the data can tell a descriptive story. This section includes data on the following topics: unemployment rate and labor force, per capita and aggregate personal income, household income and income by source, percentage of individuals and families with children under age 18 years living below the poverty level, employment by occupation, number of employees, average annual pay, distribution of jobs by industry cluster, number of establishments, deed transactions, gross domestic product (GDP), exports, tourism spending, federal funding, and student loan debt.

In the wake of the Great Recession, the region was left with unemployment levels higher than national and statewide rates – along with relatively slow economic growth. As made evident by its consistently lower-than-average wages and higher unemployment levels, the Lackawanna and Luzerne County region has historically lagged economically. Some higher wage employment sectors are showing growth, however, and consistent contributions from exports and tourism positively affect the economy.

The region has experienced some net job growth over the last few years, as evidenced by a falling unemployment rate and an increase in total jobs. The aging population is also affecting these economic characteristics. The steady rate of workers leaving the workforce due to retirement has resulted in a smaller labor force, though labor force participation among those aged 18 to 64 years has increased in recent years (indicating a favorable environment for job seekers). Consequently, wage growth since 2013 has been more rapid than in the previous five years of economic slowdown and recovery.

The percentage of individuals living below the poverty level is another major issue impacting the region. Poverty levels are closely linked with unemployment and underemployment; when households lose their livelihood, people have difficulty providing their families with basic necessities. Additionally, low wage jobs contribute to both poverty and the number of households with income above the poverty line but insufficient as a living wage (the income required for a modest but dignified life). Thus, there is increasing demand on social services and charitable organizations that are themselves negatively impacted by increasing competition for limited government and philanthropic funding. The region entered the last recession with poverty rates roughly on par with statewide rates. The region seems to have been harder hit by the downturn, however, with poverty rates now higher than the statewide rates. Nevertheless, there are some signs of lessening poverty in the region – especially in Luzerne County.

10 Jobs & Economy

Unemployment Rate & Labor Force

“At least some of the decline in the

unemployment rate during the past

several years is due to fewer people in the

workforce as opposed to job growth alone.”

Unemployment Rate & Labor ForceIn all years analyzed, Pennsylvania’s overall annual unemployment rate was lower than that of either county. Luzerne’s unemployment rates were higher than Lackawanna’s during this period. From 2010 to 2015, the Commonwealth experienced a gradually decreasing unemployment rate as the labor market recovered from the last recession. A slight increase in 2016 was followed by further decline in 2017 and 2018. Lackawanna County experienced a 9.1 percent unemployment rate in 2010, which fell to 4.6 percent in 2018. Luzerne County had a 9.9 percent unemployment rate in 2010, which fell to 5.4 percent in 2018. Estimates for January 2019 (not seasonally adjusted) are 4.8 and 5.6 respectively for Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. Both of these rates are lower than they were in January 2018, pointing further to a tightening labor market.

There have been declines in the total size of the labor force in both counties for most years since 2012, though in 2018 their annual labor force showed a slight increase by a few hundred workers. This means that at least some of the decline in the unemployment rate during the past several years is due to fewer people in the workforce as opposed to job growth alone. However, the labor force participation rate (the percentage of eligible working-age adults in the labor force) has shown improvement between 2011 and 2016 though it slightly dropped in 2017. This change is driven by the decreasing working age population in the region, which provides evidence that the falling labor force may be caused in large part by retirees leaving the workforce.

Jobs & Economy 11

Household Income

“The largest percentages of residents fell into the household income category of $50,000 to $74,999.”

Household IncomeIn 2017, the largest percentages of residents fell into the household income category of $50,000 to $74,999 for both Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties as well as Pennsylvania as a whole. In both counties, however, around one in four households have incomes below $25,000 per year; that share is closer to one in five for all of Pennsylvania. The number of households with incomes over $100,000 per year was 21.1 and 19.6 percent in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, respectively, compared to just over 26 percent statewide.

12 Jobs & Economy

Income by Source

Income by SourceIn 2017, 71.6 percent of households in Lackawanna County and 72.9 percent of households in Luzerne County had income earned by working. This percentage is a slight increase for both counties compared with the prior year, though a clear trend upward or downward is not apparent. Throughout the Commonwealth, the percentage of households with earnings decreased slightly but remained higher than in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties.

In the years analyzed, there have been increases in the number of households receiving Social Security income in Lackawanna County, whereas both Luzerne County and Pennsylvania showed decreases in number of recipients in 2017. As baby boomers continue to retire, the number of households in the region that rely on Social Security has been high relative to the Commonwealth as a whole.

The mean earnings for households with earned income were $73,672 in Lackawanna County and $68,697 in Luzerne County. Both were lower than the $85,817 mean earnings statewide, though there was a significant jump for Lackawanna County compared with the prior year. Social Security and retirement incomes were much lower – in both counties, households with Social Security income received a mean of just under $18,000 in Social Security Income. For households receiving retirement income, the mean amounts significantly jumped from the previous year – especially in Luzerne County.

“As baby boomers continue to retire,

the number of households in the

region that rely on Social Security

has been high relative to the

Commonwealth as a whole.”

Jobs & Economy 13

“Aggregate personal income has been slowly but steadily rising in both counties since 2013, after seeing stagnation and modest decline in the wake of the last recession.”

Per Capita Income Aggregate Personal Income

Aggregate Personal IncomeAggregate personal income is defined by the Bureau of Economic Analysis as “the income that is received by all persons from all sources.” Aggregate personal income has been slowly but steadily rising in both counties since 2013, after seeing stagnation and modest decline in the wake of the last recession. The Commonwealth as a whole has experienced a similar trend. All three geographies saw approximate three-percent increases in nominal (unadjusted for inflation) aggregate personal income from 2016 to 2017.

Per Capita IncomeBBoth counties and the Commonwealth reported unadjusted increases in per capita incomes of at least 52 percent from 2000 to 2017. Per capita income in both counties was lower than the statewide per capita income, however, and grew at a slightly slower pace during that time.

After accounting for inflation, this change amounts to an increase of about six percent in Lackawanna County, seven percent in Luzerne County, and 9.7 percent statewide. Much of the growth in inflation-adjusted income came between 2014 and 2015 in all three geographies.

14 Jobs & Economy

“The poverty rate among families

with children under the age of 18 years has generally been

higher than the rate of poverty among the general population.”

Per Capita Income Aggregate Personal Income Poverty

PovertyThe rate of poverty in the area increased sharply along with the increase in unemployment during the last recession. The poverty rate among all people in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties rose significantly between 2000 and 2013. The overall poverty rate continued to climb in both counties through 2015. Luzerne County showed improvement in 2016, which continued to 2017. Lackawanna County also saw improvement in 2016 but experienced a small increase by 2017. There was also a slight statewide drop in the poverty rate in 2016 and 2017. In recent years, both counties have had poverty rates higher than Pennsylvania as a whole.

The poverty rate among families with children under the age of 18 years has generally been higher than the rate of poverty among the general population. In this statistic, both counties and Pennsylvania have experienced moderate improvement from levels recorded in the years during and immediately after the last recession. Lackawanna County saw a particularly strong improvement between 2015 and 2016, and Luzerne County edged up nominally. Lackawanna County saw a sudden and significant increase of 5.8 percentage points in 2017, however, whereas Luzerne County and Pennsylvania continued their improving trends.

Jobs & Economy 15

Employment by Occupation Average Annual Pay

“Average annual pay continues to grow, but remains lower than the Commonwealth.”

Employment by OccupationIn 2017, both Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties’ residents reported that their top two occupation categories were management, business, science and arts occupations; and sales and office occupations. Rounding out third place in Lackawanna County were service occupations. Production, Transportation and Material Moving Occupations took third place in Luzerne County. These statistics have fluctuated from year to year for both counties. Lackawanna and Luzerne have experienced declines of 12 and 10 percent (respectively) in service occupations since 2013, despite modest increases in the most recent data from the prior year. Further, 2017 also brought increases in residents employed in production, transportation, and material moving occupations compared with the prior year.

Average Annual PayFrom 2008 through 2017, both counties and the state consistently reported steady increases in average annual pay. Through the period analyzed, Lackawanna County had an average growth of 2.0 percent per year and Luzerne County averaged 2.2 percent per year (not accounting for inflation). Pennsylvania averaged 2.2 percent per year. Both counties reported average annual pay that was more than $11,000 less than the statewide average annual pay, and in 2017 experienced a slower pace of growth from the prior year compared to the Commonwealth as a whole. From 2016 to 2017, however, average annual pay rose at a faster rate than previous years in all three geographies – 2.4 percent in Lackawanna County, 2.5 percent in Luzerne County, and nearly three percent statewide.

16 Jobs & Economy

Employment by Occupation Average Annual Pay Job Growth to Population Growth

“Job growth was slower in Northeastern

Pennsylvania than nationwide, but amid

recent population declines, the ratio

still points to a tight labor market.”

Job Growth to Population GrowthEmployment performance is measured as a ratio of employment growth compared to population growth. A rate of job growth higher than the rate of population growth is a potentially good sign for the economy. Otherwise, the population may be growing faster than the job market, which can lead to unemployment as jobs become scarce. A poor job growth to population growth ratio can also indicate that a place is becoming a bedroom community, where people come to live but work elsewhere. A job growth ratio that is too high could conversely be a sign of workforce shortage.

From 2008 to 2017, jobs declined in Lackawanna County but grew in Luzerne County, statewide, and nationwide. Two of these geographies – Lackawanna County and Pennsylvania – experienced modest population growth that outpaced job growth. Luzerne County’s job growth slightly outpaced its population growth. Population growth and job growth were more significant nationwide, but population growth was still faster than job growth.

More recently, job growth has rebounded to overtake population growth in all four geographies from 2013 to 2017. Job growth was slower in Northeastern Pennsylvania than nationwide, but amid recent population declines, the ratio still points to a tight labor market.

Jobs & Economy 17

Distribution of Job by Industry

Distribution of Job by IndustryThe three industry groups (by rank) with the highest proportions of jobs in Lackawanna County were Education, Health Care and Social Assistance; Retail Trade; and Manufacturing in that order. In Luzerne County, the top industries were Education, Health Care and Social Assistance; Manufacturing; and Retail Trade in that order. In 2017, Education, Health Care and Social Assistance comprised nearly one-fourth of all jobs and the top three industries listed here comprised nearly 50 percent of all jobs. Both Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties’ smallest shares of jobs were in the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Hunting, and Mining industry and the Information industry.

The fastest growing industries in Lackawanna County from 2013 to 2017 were Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities, with growth of more than 85 percent; Other Services (except Public Administration), with a 16-percent growth; and Construction, with a 12-percent growth. Luzerne County saw significant growth in Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (56 percent growth); Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate (45 percent growth); and Manufacturing (22 percent growth).

Both counties logged employment decreases in Information, Public Administration, Retail Trade, Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, and Food Service, and Wholesale Trade during that period.

18 Jobs & Economy

Number of Employees & Establishments

Number of EmployeesThe last recession caused significant job losses in Northeastern Pennsylvania and nationally. Both counties experienced their greatest drop-offs in employment from 2008 to 2010. Statewide, nearly 200,000 jobs were lost from 2008 to 2009. In the following years, the prevailing state of the economy was one of slow and uneven recovery. Both counties have since edged upward from post-recession lows, with increases again 2017. Luzerne County has exceeded its pre-recession employment peak while Lackawanna County has yet to do so.

Number of EstablishmentsThe number of business establishments has fluctuated year to year from 2008 through 2017. Luzerne County has experienced a slow downward trend, though the number of establishments in Luzerne County grew from 2014 to 2015 and reached 7,492 before dropping back to 7,373 over the last two years. Lackawanna County has seen less notable change, with 2014’s total number of establishments almost matching the 2009 total. However, Lackawanna County has experienced a steadier drop since 2014 as well. Across the period analyzed, there has been an average 5.5 percent decrease in number of establishments in the two counties whereas there has been an increase of 3.75 percent throughout the Commonwealth.

Furthermore, the lack of establishment growth despite some employment gains in recent years suggest that hiring in existing businesses may be driving job growth to a greater degree than new startups or businesses relocating to the region.

Jobs & Economy 19

Deed Transactions Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

“GDP for the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) increased by just over two percent from 2016 to 2017.”

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)GDP for the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) increased by just over two percent from 2016 to 2017. Of all years analyzed, there has been growth in all years except from 2013 to 2014.

Since 2008, the region’s GDP growth has amounted to 26.1 percent (unadjusted for inflation), compared to 30.5 percent statewide. Since 2012, the region’s growth was 15.4 percent compared to 18.6 percent statewide. From 2016 to 2017, regional growth stood at about half the statewide rate.

Deed TransactionsDeed transactions measure activity in the real estate market, including residential, commercial, and industrial property. Both counties saw sharp declines in deed transactions between 2008 and 2010, coinciding with the collapse of the real estate market nationally and the beginning of the Great Recession. Luzerne County had seen a gradual growth in deed transactions since then, but it was followed by a significant drop from 2015 to 2017 and a slight uptick in 2018. In Lackawanna County, the considerable increase seen from 2011 to 2012 was followed by several years of fluctuation and another uptick from 2014 to 2017. There was a slight decline in 2018.

20 Jobs & Economy

Exports by Industry

Exports by IndustryNumerous firms in the region contribute to the economy by exporting their goods overseas. Chemical Manufacturing has been the largest goods export category for the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre MSA for each of the last several years, with approximately $350 million in exports in 2017 – the highest among all years analyzed. Plastic and rubber manufacturing exports have grown two percent since 2016, but remain lower than in 2013. Fabricated metal products have also come into prominence, having grown by 12 percent between 2016 and 2017 to become the third largest exporting industry. All industries not shown account for over $548 million in exports, which collectively amount to over $1.5 billion for the region.

Just over one-third of the region’s exports were to Asian countries, and another 29 percent went to Canada and Mexico. The region’s third largest global export destination was the European Union, which accounted for another 16.5 percent of exports. Asia has been the fastest growing destination for regional exports since 2013.

“Asia has been the fastest growing destination for

regional exports since 2013.”

Jobs & Economy 21

Tourism Spending

“With Luzerne County’s increase each year, the region as a whole has seen a slight rise in tourism spending, with the largest jump coming in the most recent data.”

Tourism SpendingIn 2016, the most recent year for which data is available, there was more than $1.5 billion in tourism visitor spending in the two-county region – slightly higher than the previous three years. Lackawanna County has experienced decreases over the past several years, and Luzerne County has seen increasing visitor spending. From 2013 to 2016, Lackawanna County’s visitor spending declined by 6.5 percent while Luzerne County’s trended upward by nearly 6.4 percent. With Luzerne County’s increase each year, the region as a whole has seen slight a slight rise in tourism spending, with the largest jump coming in the most recent data.

22 Jobs & Economy

Student Loan DebtAn average of about 20 percent of the two-county region’s population has student loan debt, with Lackawanna County at 22 percent and Luzerne County at 18 percent. Twenty percent of the Commonwealth’s population also has student loan debt. Both counties’ and Pennsylvania’s population shares are higher than that of the nation; just 16 percent of the United States’ population has student loan debt. Thirteen percent of regional student loan holders have student loan debt in collections, matching the nationwide share.

Of all analyzed areas, Lackawanna County has the highest median student loan debt (at $20,734), followed by Pennsylvania, the United States, and Luzerne County in that order. The same order also applies to the median monthly payment, with Lackawanna County student loan holders paying the most at $183 per month and Luzerne County student loan holders paying the least at $156. The median debt amount approximately correlates with college educational attainment; the share of student debtholders and median loan amount increases with the share of population with a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Student Debt

Jobs & Economy 23

Federal Funding

Federal Funding This indicator tracks federal funding in the public, private, and non-profit sectors in the form of grants and prime contracts (including defense). Some other forms of federal funding or awards, such as loans and insurances, are not included. The two counties together comprise over $1.57 billion in federal contracts and grants. The largest portion of this total is derived from federal prime contracts.

“The two counties together comprise over $1.57 billion in federal contracts and grants.”

24 Jobs & Economy

Educ

atio

n

“The quality of a region’s education system, and the level of the education and training received by its residents and workers, are directly correlated with the success of that region’s economy.”

Education

EducationThe Education section of this report identifies important education indicators, including high school graduation rates, career and technical education, SAT scores, dropout rates, educational attainment, degree completions, special education, and student-teacher ratios. By examining indicators such as these, it is possible to assess education and future economic development in terms of strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities in order to prepare the workforce of the future for employment in the region’s business and industry.

The quality of a region’s education system, and the level of the education and training received by its residents and workers, are directly correlated with the success of that region’s economy. Pay level is often linked to high skill jobs, which are in turn linked to an individual’s level of education, so higher educational attainment levels can lead to reduced poverty and a more competitive workforce. Both counties have relatively large shares of the workforce with an associate’s degree level of attainment, but their rates of population age 25 years and older with a Bachelor’s degree or higher continue to fall short of the state average.

Emerging industries and occupations demand a diverse range of education and training opportunities, including apprenticeship programs, associate degree or trade school programs, on-the-job training, and college and university degrees. In 2017, nearly 8,639 degrees were awarded in the two-county region – many of them in key fields like health care and business. Northeastern Pennsylvania’s impressive group of higher education institutions will continue to be an asset in preparing students to be successful in the workforce.

Career and technical education at the high school level is another path to gaining necessary job skills that translate to economic opportunity. Between the two counties, there were nearly 2,700 students enrolled in the region’s Career and Technology Centers (CTCs) in 2018. In addition to CTC programs, Advanced Placement (AP) coursework is another important offering that can help students after graduation. All but one district in the two counties offer AP courses, and the number of courses offered has grown in most districts.

Among the various indicators of school performance, including attendance, dropouts, and standardized test and SAT scores, the most notable trend is the significant variation from district to district and school to school. In order for more students to pursue higher education and succeed in the workforce, it is important that the schools that struggle in measures of academic performance continue to strive for improvement despite the differing socioeconomic contexts of the communities they serve.

The four-year high school graduation rate (the percentage of students beginning high school who graduate four years later) has generally trended upward since the 2013-2014 academic year, with a mild divergence in the 2016-2017 academic year – the most recent data point on record. In that year, Lackawanna County entered its third consecutive period of improvement in graduation rates, though Luzerne County experienced a slight decline after two consecutive years of growth from 2013-2014 to 2015-2016. The number of public school dropouts spiked over the last academic year, growing by over 96 percent in Lackawanna County and 31 percent in Luzerne County.

Public school assessment has undergone a significant period of transition. The Keystone Exams have replaced the PSSA exams for 11th grade students, and the PSSA exam content changed between the 2013-2014 school year and the 2014-2015 school year to reflect Common Core material. As a result, this report uses PVAAS – the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System.

26 Education

EducationThis tool measures students’ growth over time and accounts for changes in standardized tests over time, along with variability among the student population. In 2018, the PVAAS growth index showed mostly positive results across the region. The strongest area by growth index in Luzerne County was literature (grade 11), and Reading (grades 4-8) showed the strongest growth in Lackawanna County.

Pre-K programs are significant in that they provide a basis to help children with early literacy. Students are four times more likely to drop out of school if they are not proficient readers by the third grade. In Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, participation in publicly funded Pre-K enrollments is the highest on record – at 43 and 24 percent, respectively.

“Pay level is often linked to high skill jobs, which are in

turn linked to an individual’s level of education, so

higher educational attainment levels

can lead to reduced poverty and a

more competitive workforce.”

Education 27

“Both counties have matched or outperformed the Commonwealth as a whole in all years analyzed.”

Four Year Cohort Graduation Rates

Four Year Cohort Graduation RatesThe four year graduation rate measures the proportion of students who enter 9th grade and successfully graduate four years later. Hence, this is a different measure than high school dropout rate because it measures only students who graduate within four years and excludes those who graduate in five or six years. Adjustments are made to account for students moving in or out of each school district.

Statewide, the four year graduation rate slightly declined from the 2012-2013 to the 2014-2015 academic years, but has since grown to 86.6 percent as of the 2016-2017 academic year – the highest among the years analyzed in this report. This rate includes all conventional public high schools, as well as career and technology centers (CTCs).

After rising for three consecutive years, Luzerne County’s graduation rate fell slightly to 88.6 percent in 2016-2017 from 90 percent in 2015-2016 – the lowest rate since 2014. Lackawanna County’s graduation rate, however, has enjoyed its fourth consecutive year of growth (at approximately 88.9 percent during the 2016-2017 academic year). Both counties have matched or outperformed the Commonwealth as a whole in all years analyzed. Across the region, district-level graduation rates in 2016-2017 ranged from 77 percent to nearly 98 percent.

28 Education

School Enrollment

School EnrollmentThe total public school enrollment in both counties is higher than the comparison school year of 2000-2001, yet enrollment across the state has dropped by 4.5 percent since that time. Between the 2015-2016 and 2017-2018 school years, however, enrollment in both counties has fluctuated on a smaller scale. In 2017-2018, Lackawanna County public school enrollment has slightly rebounded by 0.1 percent following two years of successive declines. Luzerne County enrollment has grown by 0.3 percent, after a decline in 2016-2017.

Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties’ percentages of students enrolled in private schools have been below the state’s percentage for each year analyzed. In 2014-2015, Luzerne County’s proportion of private school enrolled students fell to its lowest level in several years, before increasing in the subsequent two years. It reached nine percent in 2017-2018 – the highest proportion of private school students in the county since the 2012-2013 school year. Lackawanna County continued on a decreasing trajectory through 2017-2018, with 91 percent of students enrolled in public schools versus only nine percent in private schools. In general, there appears to be a regional shift toward higher enrollment in public schools as opposed to private schools, with some recent divergences among Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties this year.

“In general, there appears to be a

regional shift toward higher enrollment

in public schools as opposed to private schools, with some

recent divergences.”

Education 29

Career and Technical Education

Career and Technical EducationAn important role of education is to equip students with practical skills to help them excel in their careers. Career and Technology Centers (CTCs) present an opportunity for students to study career-based curriculums. CTC programs can include traditional trades as well as careers in health care, information systems, cosmetology, and more. These tables show the total number of high school students enrolled in programs at partnering Career and Technology Centers. As of 2018, there were 706 students from Lackawanna County school districts and 1,983 students from Luzerne County school districts participating in these programs. This represents a small decrease in Luzerne County and a small increase in Lackawanna County compared with the prior year. Hazleton Area School District has the largest number of students in CTC programs, followed by Wilkes-Barre Area, Wyoming Valley West, and Scranton. Though Hazleton has the largest number of CTC enrollees, it has also seen the largest drop in enrollment in Luzerne County since 2015 – a decrease of 27 percent from 880 to 644 students. Valley View is the Lackawanna County CTC program with the largest drop enrollment, with a decrease of 37 percent from 68 to 43 students.

The Industry Standards-Based Competency Assessment is one measure of CTC student achievement. The tables here show the percent of all students who took this assessment and scored competent or advanced. District-level scores fluctuate widely, and data for all districts is not available. This is due to the very small sample sizes of students taking these tests. However, countywide averages in both counties decreased from 2016 to 2017, following increases from the previous year. Note that county averages only include districts for which scores are shown on the table, so a complete picture of countywide assessment cannot be seen.

“Career and Technology Centers (CTCs) present an opportunity for students to study career-based curriculums.”

30 Education

Advanced Placement Courses Charter Schools

Advanced Placement CoursesThe number of Advanced Placement (AP) courses offered at high schools are indicators of the amount of college preparatory work that is available to students. AP courses are helpful ways for students to take more rigorous coursework and potentially earn college credit while in high school. In 2017, there was an average of 7.2 AP courses offered in Lackawanna County high schools. The average in Luzerne County was also 7.2. This is an increase from the previous year in both counties. In Luzerne County, Hazleton Area offered 24 AP courses – the most of any high school in the region but three fewer than the prior year. Wyoming Area and Wyoming Valley West offered the second-most AP courses in Luzerne County, with nine courses in each. In Lackawanna County, the leading high schools were North Pocono (20 courses) and Abington Heights (14 courses). Fifteen of the 24 public high schools in the region offered more AP courses in 2017 than they did in 2015.

Charter SchoolsIn 2018, there were 1,010 students enrolled in charter schools in Lackawanna County and 1,384 in Luzerne County. Compared with the previous year, this was an increase of nearly nine percent in Lackawanna County and an increase of three percent in Luzerne County. Wilkes-Barre Area, Scranton, and Hazleton Area school districts had the largest number of students enrolled in charter schools.

“The number of students enrolled in

charter schools has increased

from the previous year.”

Education 31

School Assessment

School AssessmentIIndividual student growth is measured using PVAAS – the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System. The Average Growth Index (AGI) is a measure of students’ improvement in scores on the PSSA and Keystone Exams. Higher AGI values indicate higher levels of confidence that student growth meets or exceeds state standards. Unlike examining achievement scores, the growth scores show to what degree individual students progress over time, rather than how well students perform on a test in a particular year.

Lackawanna County’s averages in all five categories (Grades 4-8 Math and Reading and Grade 11 Biology, Algebra, and Literature) were positive in 2017. The highest value was in Grades 4-8 Reading, driven by growth in Scranton, Lakeland, and Carbondale. Growth in the countywide average index was lowest in Grade 11 Algebra, as modest increases in most districts offset large decreases in Lakeland and Mid Valley.

In Luzerne County, Grade 11 Literature showed the greatest average growth, followed by Grades 4-8 Reading and Math, and Grade 11 Biology. The county average for Grade 11 Algebra was negative, however, suggesting that the statewide growth standard was not achieved. Furthermore, algebra growth scores varied significantly across districts – from -6.47 in Greater Nanticoke to 5.52 in Lake Lehman. In Luzerne County, the growth indices in all subjects were higher in 2018 than in 2017.

32 Education

“Only slight increases or

decreases in staff were seen in either

county from the 2016-2017 to 2017-2018 school year.”

Education Employment

Education EmploymentIn the 2017-2018 school year, public school districts in Lackawanna County had 2,289 professional personnel, and Luzerne County had 3,069. Just over 85 percent of professional personnel in both counties were classroom teachers. Only slight increases or decreases in staff were seen in either county from the 2016-2017 to 2017-2018 school year. The largest change was the addition of eight coordinator/support personnel in Luzerne County.

Education 33

Special Education Public School Dropouts

Public School DropoutsThe number of dropouts in the region has fluctuated considerably over the last decade. Lackawanna County’s number has risen and fallen each year, but spiked in the most recent data with a 97-percent growth in 2016-2017 (to 228 – the highest on record for the county). In Luzerne County, the number of dropouts rose by over 30 percent – from 347 in 2015-2016 to 454 in 2016-2017. For both counties, dropouts in the 2016-2017 year are the highest in the decade analyzed.

Special EducationSpecial education data is collected at the Intermediate Unit Level. The Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit 19 includes Lackawanna, Susquehanna, and Wayne Counties. The Luzerne Intermediate Unit 18 includes Luzerne and Wyoming Counties.

Both intermediate units had significantly higher overall numbers of students enrolled in special education compared with the 2001-2002 school year. Furthermore, both areas have generally experienced increasing trends in special education enrollments. Enrollment in both areas declined in the 2015-2016 school year, but in the most recent data has resumed a growth trajectory. Between 2015-2016 and 2016-2017, NEIU 19 had an enrollment increase of nearly four percent. IU 18 enrollment grew by nearly five percent during the same time.

The largest shares of special education enrollments in the counties remain specific learning disabilities, speech or language impairment, and other health impairments. The numbers of students in the categories for autism spectrum disorders and other health impairments exhibited growth for the fifth consecutive year, with a 10-percent increase in NIEU 19 and a 12-percent increase in IU 18 compared to the year before. Additionally, special education enrollment for other health impairments rose by at least eight percent for both intermediate units.

34 Education

“The scores in both counties

either improved or held steady

compared with the prior year.”

SAT Scores

SAT ScoresThe College Board altered the SAT format and scoring system in March 2016. Therefore, scores reported since 2017 on the table reflect the new SAT testing. Though each section is scored on a scale from 200 to 800, as was the case in the past, verbal and writing skills are now assessed together (as reflected in the tables). Additionally, recent scores appear much higher than those reported before 2016; due to changes in test content, however, caution should be used when comparing prior year scores at face value with scores reported after 2017.

In 2018, Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties’ average scores were similar in both test sections. Lackawanna County performed just a few points better on average in each section. The scores in both counties either improved or held steady compared with the prior year.

In the reading and writing section, both counties had slightly higher scores than Pennsylvania as a whole. Both counties scored marginally lower than the state of Pennsylvania in the math section.

Education 35

Higher Education Attainment Degree Completions

Higher Education AttainmentAssociate’s Degree In 2017, the percentage of residents age 25 and older with an associate’s degree as their highest level of educational attainment was 8.2 percent for Lackawanna County and 9.7 percent for Luzerne County. Although these numbers indicate a decrease for both counties, there has still been significant growth in associate’s degree holders since 2000. The percentage of Pennsylvanians with an associate’s degree had kept a gradual upward pace, matching a peak of 8.3 percent last achieved in 2015. Traditionally, both Lackawanna and Luzerne counties have a higher proportion of associate’s degree holders than the rest of Pennsylvania; however, Lackawanna County fell slightly below the statewide average in 2017.

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher In both counties, the percentage of the population that holds a bachelor’s degree or higher has increased significantly from 2000 to 2017. Pennsylvania has also seen growth in this area, rising from 22.4 percent in 2000 to 31.4 percent in 2017. In contrast to those with associate’s degrees, the proportion of adults with bachelor’s degrees is lower in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties than Pennsylvania as a whole. This gap has narrowed slightly compared with 2000 – the bachelor’s degree attainment rates in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties were 93 and 76 percent of the statewide rate in 2017, compared with 88 and 73 percent in 2000.

Degree CompletionsIn the 2016-2017 school year, institutions in Lackawanna County awarded fewer degrees (4,102) than those in Luzerne County (4,537). This represents a small decrease from the prior year for Lackawanna County, and a small increase for Luzerne. The cumulative total of degrees awarded in both counties consequently amounted to 8,639. The greatest number of total degree completions in Lackawanna County were for “Business Administration and Management, General” (160 completions), “Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse” (147 completions), and both “Accounting” (145 completions) and “Social Work” (145 completions). In Luzerne County, the largest two categories of degree completions also included “Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse” and “Business Administration and Management, General” – with 338 and 323 degrees awarded, respectively. However, the third largest category was “Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other” (at 236). JobsEQ (Chmura Economics) is the source of degree completions data.

36 Education

Student-Teacher Ratio

Student-Teacher RatioThe student-teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the number of students enrolled in a district by the number of teachers employed in the district. The ratio can correlate with a district’s performance; research has shown that students in schools with smaller class sizes receive more individualized attention and therefore tend to do better on average. However, it is not an ideal predictor of educational quality or outcomes.

In Lackawanna County, 2016-2017 student-teacher ratios ranged from 13.6 in the Scranton School District to 17.0 in the Carbondale Area School District. In Luzerne County, ratios for that year ranged from 13.7 in Lake-Lehman to 18.1 in Pittston and Crestwood. After three years of declining student-teacher ratios, Luzerne County noted its first increase on record – from 15.9 in 2015-2016 to 16.2 in 2016-2017. In Lackawanna County, however, student-teacher ratios have entered their third consecutive year of decline. The statewide average student-teacher ratio is 14.2, and the national average is 16.0.

“Research has shown that students in schools

with smaller class sizes receive more

individualized attention and therefore tend to do

better on average.”

Education 37

Pre-K Enrollment

Pre-K EnrollmentAs of the 2016-2017 school year, about 43 percent of children aged three or four in Lackawanna County were served by the publicly-funded early childhood education programs listed. About 24 percent of Luzerne County children aged three to four were enrolled in the same programs. In both areas, participation in publicly-funded Pre-K was at the highest level on record. This was driven by growth in traditional Head Start enrollment as well as enrollment in the category that includes Pre-K Counts, Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program, and Child Care Works programs.

“ Participation in publicly-funded Pre-K was at the highest level on record.”

38 Education

Tech

nolo

gy &

Inno

vatio

n

Technology & Innovation

“A truly innovative region fosters creativity in all aspects of work and life.”

Technology and InnovationThe Technology and Innovation section of this report identifies important indicators in Pennsylvania and Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, including technology and innovation-related occupations and industries, funding from federal programs supporting innovation (such as Small Business and Innovation Research Awards (SBIR), Small Business Technology Transfer Awards (STTR), and National Science Foundation (NSF) funding), clinical trials, venture capital investments, and patents. Each of these indicators is intended to measure some aspect of technological development or innovation.

Globally, economic activity is shifting more toward knowledge-based jobs and industries like education, healthcare, and finance. Even traditional industries such as manufacturing and extraction are increasingly reliant on automation and other new technologies to stay competitive. When businesses innovate existing processes, products, or business models, they enhance their region’s competitive advantage. Innovation can thus be a major driver of economic growth.

Technology and innovation go beyond smartphone apps and personal computing devices. A truly innovative region fosters creativity in all aspects of work and life. Through entrepreneurship and creative thinking, new ideas can be introduced, applied to real-world problems, and brought into the global marketplace. Major areas of technology and innovation include research and development, scientific research, medical and pharmaceutical research, and information technology.

Technology and innovation can be difficult to measure directly. One option is to measure the jobs and industries in the region that engage directly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). A strong STEM workforce signifies a culture of exploration and innovation. In this year’s report, three occupation categories are examined – computer and mathematical occupations; life, physical, and social science occupations; and architecture and engineering occupations. Industries with high concentrations of these jobs are analyzed as well. In 2018, employment opportunities in STEM occupations generally increased in Luzerne County, yet decreased in Lackawanna County. However, total STEM employment in both counties remains stable, and STEM jobs are key components of several industries that are prominent in the regional economy. The area’s strength in STEM industries lies not only in engineering, higher education, and research, but also in manufacturing, energy, business, and health care. It is the latter that are the often overlooked laboratories of technology and innovation.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) is a competitive grant program run by the U.S. Small Business Administration to support research and development with the potential for commercialization. The Small Business Administration also coordinates the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, which encourages joint ventures between small businesses and nonprofit research institutions. Allocations for SBIR awards in Pennsylvania approached $88 million (a two-percent increase from 2017), while STTR awards fell to approximately $10 million.

The number of clinical trials is one measure of health care innovation. As of the fourth quarter of 2018, there were 65 active clinical trials in the recruiting stage in Lackawanna County and 88 in Luzerne County. Trials covered critical areas of health and medicine, including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and eye health. The amount of multi-stage venture capital investments and angel fund investments in the region also highlight how much innovation is occurring in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Though there is no single, systematic source for data on venture capital investment, several sources reported nearly $800,000 in new investments in the region in 2018. Only known investments were counted, so this number is this is likely an underrepresentation of actual venture capital funding that supports innovation and entrepreneurship in the area.

40 Technology and Innovation

STEM Occupations

STEM OccupationsData for three STEM occupation categories were analyzed. In 2018, employment in architecture and engineering occupations shrank by nearly two percent in Lackawanna County, but grew by more than one percent in Luzerne County. This occupation category employs a total of 3,200 workers across both counties. Luzerne County has seen a consistent growth trend in this occupation category since 2014.

Life, physical, and social science employment has been generally stable in both counties over the past five years. Despite small fluctuations from year to year, the two counties combined have averaged about 1,362 jobs in those occupations. In 2018, Lackawanna County experienced an employment decline and Luzerne County experienced a small increase.

Computer and mathematical occupations have varied more from year to year. Both counties saw declines in 2018, and Luzerne County has seen a decrease of nearly 19 percent since 2016. The two counties have recorded a net loss of over 950 jobs in that time period.

Wages in all three of these STEM occupation groups were higher than wages in the region as a whole. In the two counties, architecture and engineering jobs have a median wage of $67,500 per year, and science occupations have median wage of more than $68,300 per year. Computer and mathematical occupations have a median wage of over $57,500 per year. The regional median wage for all jobs is $34,800 per year.

The wage gap between STEM and non-STEM workers is apparent across different experience levels for workers, though the size of the differential diminishes among more experienced individuals. For entry-level workers, the STEM occupation categories offer wages ranging from 58 percent to 100 percent higher than the overall entry-level median wage. Among experienced workers, the STEM occupations offer a 51 to 69-percent premium over the overall median wage.

“Wages in all three of these STEM

occupation groups were higher than

wages in the region as a whole.”

Technology and Innovation 41

STEM-Based Industries

STEM-Based IndustriesThe table below shows the industries with the largest numbers of employees in the three STEM occupation categories discussed previously. Approximately 60 percent of all STEM jobs in the region are in one of the 15 industries listed here.

Architectural, engineering, and related services had the highest number of STEM jobs as well as the highest percentage of its workforce (63 percent) in STEM fields. The computer systems design and related services industry had 608 of its employment in STEM occupations – 57 percent of that industry’s total workforce. The third largest STEM industry in the region is data processing, hosting, and related services (513 STEM jobs, 39 percent of the industry workforce). Colleges and universities, management of companies, and various other industries also host large numbers of STEM workers. Several heavy industries, such as electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, medical equipment manufacturing, and plastics manufacturing are also represented.

The location quotients on the table pertain to that industry’s relative size in the region compared to the national average. An industry with a location quotient of 1.00 comprises the same percentage of local employment as national employment. Higher values indicate greater shares of local employment, and values less than one indicate relatively small shares of the local economy. Of the 15 listed industries with high STEM concentrations, the highest location quotients are in plastics manufacturing and medical equipment manufacturing, followed by data processing and electric power generation.

“STEM jobs are integral to a number of industries throughout the region.”


SBIR & STTR Awards National Science Foundation

SBIR & STTR Awards The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program awards grants to small businesses throughout the nation in order to promote federal innovation research and development. In 2017, firms in Pennsylvania received nearly $88 million in SBIR awards. 2017 was the fourth consecutive year with growth in the SBIR award amount, and the number of awards the state has received has ticked up to 185 – the highest since 2015.

The Small Business Technology Transfer program (STTR) is similar to the SBIR program, with an emphasis on joint venture opportunities between small businesses and nonprofit research institutions. Pennsylvania’s 2017 award total was just over $10 million – lower than the award in the previous year. This decline followed a $17 million total award amount in 2016 – the highest on record – and represents a nearly 40-percent decline from that peak. Still, the total amount of 2017 STTR awards in Pennsylvania remains 31 percent higher than 2012 levels. The total number of STTR grants fell from 39 to 32, though there has been an almost 78-percent increase in the number of grantees compared to 2012.

National Science Foundation (NSF)The total amount of statewide NSF funding has generally remained consistent, averaging around $273 million per year over the five-year period analyzed. In the 2018 federal fiscal year, however, it dipped to its lowest level since 2012. Nonetheless, it is noteworthy that one award was made to a Lackawanna County recipient in the amount of $847,000 – an improvement over the total lack of any award recipients in either county in 2017.

Technology and Innovation 43


“A number of ongoing clinical trials in the region relate to critical areas of health research, such as vaccines, several cancers, insulin delivery, and Alzheimer’s disease.”

Clinical Trials Venture Capital Investments/Patents Issued

Clinical TrialsAs of December 2018, there were 65 active clinical trials in the recruiting stage in Lackawanna County and 88 in Luzerne County. These numbers represent unprecedentedly large increases in both counties from the prior year. This may reflect the rapidly growing investment by healthcare firms and researchers into the region and/or changes in reporting or classification methodology.

Regardless, a number of ongoing trials in the region relate to critical areas of health research, such as vaccines, several cancers, insulin delivery, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Multi-Stage Venture Capital InvestmentsIt is difficult to capture venture capital investment data from a single source, and this problem is compounded by the lack of available non-proprietary data. Due to these challenges, venture capital shown here likely underestimates actual investments. This list includes multi-stage venture capital investments and angel fund investments made by public and private sources over the past ten years, and which have been made public or provided to The Institute.

In 2018, at least $800,000 was invested directly by organizations reporting data to The Institute, including Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania and private sources. This is higher than totals obtained in previous years. Additionally, Ben Franklin Technology Partners reported that their clients in the region raised a total of $8.9 million in 2018 from angel investors and venture capital firms, with $4.86 million raised by Luzerne County firms and $4.02 million raised by Lackawanna County firms. Known recipients include manufacturers as well as information technology companies.

Patents IssuedPatents are filed by the inventors and classified according to the inventors’ residential addresses. Patents may be individually owned or owned by organizations inside or outside the region. As of 2018, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is no longer regularly tabulating patent data at a county or regional level. Data published in the 2017 Indicators report, the most recent available, is presented here for reference.

In 2015, 40 patents were issued to inventors in the two counties. Both counties saw a decrease of one from the prior year. In total, 487 patents have been issued over the ten years analyzed.


Hou

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“The region’s housing stock is predominantly older and owner-occupied.”

Housing

HousingThe Housing section of this report covers indicators that measure Northeastern Pennsylvania’s housing market, including demand, building permits, occupancy, housing affordability, rental affordability, housing density, market conditions, and homelessness.

In 2016, there were 248,675 housing units in the two counties. Of those, 149,737 were in Luzerne County and 98,938 were in Lackawanna County. Overall, there were over 5.6 million dwellings in Pennsylvania. The region’s housing stock is predominantly older and owner-occupied. About two-thirds of housing units are owner-occupied. About 56 percent of homes in both counties were built prior to 1960, compared to just 48 percent statewide. Though new housing construction has been slow over the past decade, permitting for new housing construction has accelerated and now matches or exceeds pre-recession rates.

Since the housing market crash, signs of recovery in the region have been mixed. The latest data shows some increasing price points, however. Median home value, tracked by the Census Bureau, decreased slightly in Lackawanna County and increased slightly in Luzerne County. Furthermore, median listing price – a more immediate indicator of market activity – grew considerably in 2018. For-sale inventory increased slightly in the two-county region, but inventory on the market remains well below levels recorded five years ago. Together, these signs point to tightening housing market conditions.

Housing affordability has not changed significantly over time. The median monthly ownership costs (including mortgage payment, property taxes, and other costs of homeownership) as a percentage of median household income were calculated for owner-occupied households, along with gross rent as a percent of household income. In 2017, monthly homeownership costs as a percentage of median household income for both counties were comparable to 2000 levels. Rent costs as a percentage of income have increased by approximately three percentage points since 2000.

Finally, homelessness remains a challenge in this region as with virtually all communities in the United States. In 2018, 234 homeless individuals were counted. More than one-third were children. The total number of homeless individuals counted has declined over the past two years, as has the percentage of those who are unsheltered, indicating that some progress is being made on addressing homelessness.

46 Housing

Demand for New HomesBuilding Permits & Construction Costs

Demand for New HomesAs of 2017, Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties were somewhat behind the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in terms of recent building. In Pennsylvania, 1.9 percent of homes were built in 2010 or later – slightly higher than Lackawanna County’s 1.7 percent or 1,642 homes, and Luzerne County’s 1.2 percent or 1,811 homes. Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties also have a smaller percentage of housing stock built between 2000 and 2009 than Pennsylvania’s 8.5 percent; Lackawanna County sits at 6.0 percent and Luzerne County is at 6.1 percent. This indicates that the nationwide housing construction boom of the early 2000s was less apparent in this region. Furthermore, compared to Pennsylvania, a much higher percentage of the region’s housing stock was built prior to 1940.

Building Permits & Construction CostsThe number of building permits issued in Luzerne County has largely increased to pre-recession levels. In Luzerne County, 388 building permits were issued in 2007; 387 were reported in 2017. The 463 housing units permitted in 2017 were Luzerne County’s most in over a decade.

In Lackawanna County, however, the number of building permits issued dropped significantly from 2016 to 2017. While less than pre-recession levels, this total still remains higher than lows seen from 2011 to 2013.

Construction costs have correlated with permitting activity in both counties, and significantly exceed lows reached during the last recession. Over the past ten years, there has been nearly $1.6 billion in construction costs invested in the two-county region.

Housing 47

Occupancy & Vacancy Housing Tenure

Occupancy & VacancyIn 2017, 86.8 percent of all housing units in Lackawanna County were occupied – in line with rates seen in years prior. The percentage in Luzerne County increased from 83.9 percent in 2016 to 85.6 percent in 2017, but again fell in a range seen over the past several years. The Commonwealth’s occupancy rate increased slightly in 2017, and remains higher than either county rate.

Housing TenureHousing tenure refers to the breakdown of those who own their own homes versus those who rent. From 2013 to 2017, there were some fluctuation in the ratios of those who own their homes to those who rent in Lackawanna County, Luzerne County, and Pennsylvania. The ratio of owners to renters was approximately 2:1 in both counties. There have been year-to-year changes in both counties, with the percentage of renters ranging from about 33 percent to around 36 percent most years – though Luzerne County’s percentage of renters has shown a declining trend since 2015.

Statewide, there is a slightly higher percentage of owner-occupancy. On average, between 68 and 69 percent of Commonwealth housing units are owner-occupied.

“The ratio of owners to renters was approximately 2:1 in both counties.”

48 Housing

Housing & Rental Affordability

Housing & Rental AffordabilityFor owner-occupied housing, affordability is measured by monthly cost of ownership. Selected Monthly Owner Costs (SMOC), as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, include mortgage payment, real estate taxes, various insurances, utilities, fuels, mobile home costs, and condominium fees. Only owner-occupied units with mortgages are included in this dataset.

From 2013 to 2017, Lackawanna County’s median SMOC was between 31 and 35 percent of the median household income. The percentages seen from 2015 and 2017 represent the lowest among recent years analyzed, and below ratios seen in 2000 and 2010. Because this statistic is a ratio of homeownership costs to median income, there is no need to adjust for inflation.

Luzerne County’s SMOC was 29.7 percent in 2016. This percentage represents a decrease from the prior year, a lower percentage than most other years analyzed, and again below comparison years of 2000 and 2010. Pennsylvania’s ratio increased to 30.5 percent, below the ratio seen in 2010 and comparable to 2000.

A similar calculation was used for rental housing. The median rent as a percentage of median household income for all three geographic areas has fluctuated between 17 and 20 percent for the past several years. Compared with the base year of 2000, this ratio increased in every area and continued to trend upward until 2014 – reaching nearly 20 percent in both counties before moderating in more recent data. Lackawanna County showed a slight increase in 2017, but Luzerne County remained steady.

The two counties have generally had median rents and median rents as a percentage of income that were comparable to or slightly lower than Pennsylvania as a whole.

“The two counties have generally had

median rents and median rents as a

percentage of income that were comparable

to or slightly lower than Pennsylvania as

a whole.”

Housing 49

Housing Value

Housing ValueLackawanna County’s 2017 median housing value decreased slightly from the prior year, which at $152,000 had been the highest of all five years studied. Luzerne County experienced a slight increase of $700, marking the highest median value since 2013. Median home values in Lackawanna County have not shown a clear trend; there have been small increases and decreases annually over the past five years. Luzerne County has shown an upward trajectory since 2014, however. The median value of Lackawanna County homes has been an average of 12.5 percent lower than the statewide median over the last five years; in Luzerne County, the median value has been 27 percent lower than the statewide median on average.

In 2017, 39 percent of homes in Luzerne County were valued at less than $100,000, and another 38 percent were valued between $100,000 and $200,000. In Lackawanna County, the largest share of homes (41 percent) were valued between $100,000 and $200,000, and another 28 percent were worth less than $100,000. In both counties, the percentages of homes valued above $200,000 and the percentages of homes valued above $300,000 were lower than the percentages in Pennsylvania overall.

50 Housing

Housing DensityHousing density data for both counties and Pennsylvania showed small increases in homes per square mile between 2016 and 2017, in accordance with small increases in the estimated number of housing units in both counties. In Lackawanna County, Luzerne County, and Pennsylvania, the number of homes per square mile in 2017 were 212.8, 165.2, and 122.8 respectively, indicating that the two counties have higher housing densities than the Commonwealth as a whole.

Housing Density

Housing 51

Mortgage Activity

Mortgage Activity Generally, between 54 and 55 percent of owner-occupied homes in Lackawanna County have mortgages. In Luzerne County, the percentage has been similar, ranging from 54 to 58 percent. In 2017, Lackawanna County’s share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage increased slightly while Luzerne County’s was largely unchanged. Both counties have a lower share of mortgaged homes than in 2010. Statewide, this percentage is higher, at more than 60 percent.

Median monthly owner costs, which include mortgage payments as well as real estate taxes, various insurances, utilities, fuels, mobile home costs, and condominium fees, have increased in both counties since 2013 – and they have stayed between $1,100 and $1,314 per month, which is still substantially less than the state median of $1,446 in 2017.

52 Housing

Home SalesThe for-sale inventory represents the number of all housing units that were for sale in the respective geography at a given point in time. Data from the month of December was used for each of the years represented on the chart. In 2018, this number was just over 1,000 for Lackawanna County and 1,320 for Luzerne County – an increase for Lackawanna County and a small decline for Luzerne County compared with the prior year. The five-year peak in both counties, as well as in the state of Pennsylvania as a whole, came in 2014. The declining trend in for-sale housing supply was followed by more recent growth in listing prices.

Median listing price in 2018 in both counties represented another year of increase, compared to the previous several years. Though median prices remain significantly lower than that of the Commonwealth as a whole, both counties saw the median listing price grow by over $14,000 between 2017 and 2018 – the highest of all years analyzed in both counties. The statewide median listing price reached $200,000 in December 2018.

Median listing price in 2017 in both counties represented a slight increase from 2016. Pennsylvania’s median listing price was higher in 2017 ($189,000) than in all other years examined. Median sales prices in both counties remained significantly lower than the state as a whole.

“Median listing price in 2018 in both

counties represented another year of

increase.”

ForeclosuresThe number of regional foreclosure fillings peaked in 2012 and 2013, at over 1,600 in the two counties combined for each of those years. Since then, foreclosures trended downward to about half that amount in 2016, but in 2017 filings grew to 930 in both counties. This increase was driven by a 120-percent growth in filings in Luzerne County in 2017. The total number of statewide filings has continually trended downward since 2012, falling by 29 percent in that time.

Home Sales Foreclosures

Housing 53

Homelessness

Homelessness Homelessness data is tracked annually via point-in-time counts reported to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In 2016, there were a total of 282 homeless individuals counted in the two counties. Seven percent of them were unsheltered. In 2017, the total number of homeless individuals counted fell to 241, with seven percent unsheltered. Another slight decline took place in 2018, with a total of 234 homeless individuals in the region and the share of unsheltered homeless persons falling below five percent.

The share of the region’s homeless population that are children has ranged from 36 to 49 percent among the years analyzed, with the most recent data showing the smallest share.

The statewide homeless population has also declined, but the percentage of homeless individuals who are unsheltered is higher than the percentage in the region – and growing. Across the Commonwealth, 17 percent of all homeless individuals counted in 2018 were unsheltered.

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Social Services

Social ServicesThe Social Services section of the report describes important indicators related to social service programs within Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The indicators tracked cover the Keystone STARS program, children living in poverty, children in foster care, households receiving food stamps, individuals receiving cash assistance, medical assistance and children’s health insurance programs, the population of seniors 65 years and older, the number of senior centers, the population of individuals with disabilities, and certain tax credits. Social services include government-funded services that are usually provided to those in need of essentials, such as health care, food, etc.

There are numerous individuals throughout Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties and the Commonwealth who face physical, economic, or social challenges. As such, there is an ongoing need for social services to assist these citizens in their daily lives. The recipients of social services are often older individuals, those with mental and physical health challenges, and lower-income families. A large portion of the population has faced the consequences of an uneven economy since the recession in 2008, and despite generalized economic growth in recent years, there remains a persistent demand for government-funded services as well as assistance from charitable and faith-based organizations.

Poverty is one issue behind the region’s continued need for social services. Child poverty rates in both counties have generally been higher than the statewide average (though Lackawanna County briefly had a below-average child poverty rate in 2016, for the first time since 2011). Furthermore, the percentage of households receiving SNAP benefits (often referred to as Food Stamps) was far higher in 2017 than it was prior to the recession, averaging 16.9 percent regionally.

Pennsylvania has expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act to cover adults under 65 years with incomes up to 133 percent of the Federal Poverty Level as of January 1, 2015. As a result, a greater number of individuals are eligible for Medical Assistance. Nearly 23 percent of the Pennsylvania population is eligible for Medical Assistance, and in both Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, the number of eligible individuals grew by 22,000 between July 2015 and July 2018. Statewide and regionally, enrollment in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) has grown for the last several years.

Older Pennsylvanians also possess a particular need for social support. Many senior citizens live on fixed incomes and face significant health care issues. Within the two-county region, the percent of the total population aged 65 and older remains higher than the statewide percentage, and the total number of seniors in the region is over 100,000. The number of individuals in the region with a disability has remained relatively steady, indicating a continued need for support for a variety of disabilities.

There are also several federal income tax credits that serve a similar purpose as social assistance programming. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) can provide significant income, in the form of an income tax refund, to lower income households. Regionally, about 18 percent of tax returns received the EITC as of 2016, and this percentage has seen some growth since 2011.

“There are numerous individuals throughout Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties who face physical, economic, or social challenges.”

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Early Childhood Education Children Living in Poverty

Early Childhood EducationKeystone STARS is an initiative of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). It was developed to improve, support, and recognize the continuous quality improvement efforts of early learning programs in Pennsylvania. Participating childcare and early learning programs are rated from one to four stars on several factors including teacher quality and adherence to safety regulations.

There has been significant year-to-year fluctuation in the number of participating centers. Both counties reached their highest levels in 2018, however, with 83 facilities in Lackawanna and 126 in Luzerne – an increase of seven centers total over 2017. This increase was fueled by growth across 2-star, 3-star, and 4-star facilities. The number 1-star facilities actually fell by 10 from 2017 to 2018. The largest growth was seen among 2-star facilities, which increased by 11 over the last year, followed by 4-star facilities, which grew by four.

Children Living in Poverty The statewide childhood poverty rate remained relatively stable – around 19 to 20 percent – in each year since 2010, and increased by one-tenth of a percentage point to 18.6 percent in 2017, its second-lowest level since 2009. From 2012 to 2015, both Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties have had childhood poverty rates above the statewide rate – although in 2016, Lackawanna County’s rate of poverty (17.7 percent) briefly dipped below the statewide rate. Luzerne County also saw a decrease in the child poverty level between 2015 and 2016. In 2017, however, both counties experienced increases in child poverty. Lackawanna’s rate increased by nearly five percentage points, and Luzerne’s rate increased by more than two percentage points.

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Children in Foster Care Food Stamps/SNAP

Children in Foster Care The most recent data estimates a total of 2,084 children in foster care in the two counties. This total also includes other unrelated children – those who are not related by blood, marriage, or adoption to the individuals in their households. It represents 2.1 percent of all children in the two-county region. Statewide, 48,207 children (1.8 percent) fell into this category.

Compared with 5-year estimates from 2016, the number of foster children in the two counties has grown by about 10 percent, and the statewide total decreased by half a percent. When considering the counties individually, Lackawanna is the driver of the high increase in percentage of children in foster care. This percentage was 1.8 in 2016 and 2.4 in 2017. Luzerne County experienced a decrease in percentage of children in foster care – from 1.8 to 1.7 percent.

Food Stamps/SNAPThe last decade has generally brought with it a marked increase in the number of households receiving assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or “Food Stamps”), both regionally across Pennsylvania. The largest period of growth occurred between 2008 and 2010, coinciding with changes to program eligibility at the federal level. In 2017, Lackawanna County experienced a 0.7-percentage point increase from the previous year, and Luzerne County experienced a decrease of approximately 1.2 percentage points. Statewide, the percentage of households receiving SNAP has averaged about 13 percent since 2011.

“The most recent data estimates a total of 2,084 children in foster care in the two counties, or 2.1 percent of all children in the region.”

58 Social Services

Children in Foster Care Food Stamps/SNAP Heading

Cash Assistance Medical Assistance & CHIP

Cash AssistanceCash assistance programs, such as Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF), provide additional income assistance to those who cannot work and to households that do not earn enough from work to support themselves. Lackawanna County experienced a steady decline in cash assistance utilization from 2013 to 2015, but the rate of usage spiked to 3.8 percent in 2016 – the highest rate since 2009. In 2017, however, the county’s TANF utilization rate reverted to 2014 levels, with approximately three percent of households receiving assistance. After a similar decline in usage from 2012 to 2014, Luzerne County experienced a steady climb in the number of households receiving cash assistance – from 3.1 percent in 2014 to 3.8 percent as of 2017. Traditionally, both counties have enjoyed below-average rates of cash assistance use compared to statewide metrics; although in 2016 and 2017, both counties experienced above-average rates.

Medical Assistance & CHIPCompared with the first year in the analysis – 2010 – there has been a substantial increase in the number of individuals eligible for Medical Assistance in the two counties. After some initial fluctuation, the percent of the population and total number of persons eligible for Medical Assistance rose sharply from 2013 to 2016, reaching 25 percent of Lackawanna County residents and 26.2 percent of Luzerne County residents. By 2017, both counties saw increases of at least another percentage point in the share of individuals eligible for Medicaid. As of July 2018, more than one in five Pennsylvania residents were considered eligible for Medical Assistance, with a 42,000-person increase in eligibility since 2013 in just Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties alone. Rates of Medical Assistance eligibility have increased in recent years due to Pennsylvania’s expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

Statewide enrollment in Pennsylvania’s Children’s Health Insurance Program trended downward until 2016. According to CHIP, part of this decline was due to more children qualifying for Medicaid who would otherwise have qualified for CHIP – not a reduction in need of low-cost healthcare. Both counties experienced an increase in children receiving CHIP in 2019, however, despite a small statewide decline in the most recent data.

Social Services 59

Programs for Seniors

“During the years examined, senior citizens made up a larger share of the population in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties than in Pennsylvania as a whole.”

Programs for Seniors (Population 65 or older)Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties have seen recent fluctuations in the number of residents age 65 years and older. Both counties have a slightly smaller or same-sized senior citizen population than they did in the 2000 Census. Still, there were an estimated 103,458 residents aged 65 years and older in the two counties as of 2017. During the years examined, senior citizens made up a larger share of the population in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties than in Pennsylvania as a whole. However, while the region’s percent of senior residents has decreased since the 2000 Census, Pennsylvania’s has trended upward – reaching 17.8 percent in 2017.

The number of senior centers in each county has remained consistent for several years, and the two counties have a similar number of senior centers per 1,000 residents aged 65 years or older.

60 Social Services

Individuals with Disabilities

Individuals with DisabilitiesIn both counties, the percentage of individuals with a disability has fluctuated over the past five years. The number decreased by more than 3,300 from 2016 to 2017. In both counties, the percent of the population that has at least one disability has been consistently higher than the percentage in the Commonwealth – averaging 15.7 and 15.8 percent over the past five years respectively, compared to the statewide five-year average of 13.9 percent.

Of all disabilities reported in the two-county region, 26 percent were ambulatory disabilities. The next largest were independent living and cognitive disabilities. Vision and hearing disabilities as well as self-care disabilities each comprise smaller but still substantial amounts of all disabilities reported in the region. This breakdown has changed minimally over the past several years.

Social Services 61

Tax Credits

Tax CreditsCertain tax credits function as forms of social aid to low- and middle-income households. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a federal income tax credit that provides assistance to lower income households with earned income in the form of a tax credit. This form of assistance was received on 19 percent of Luzerne County tax returns in 2016. In that year, 17.1 percent of returns filed in Lackawanna County received the EITC. This is somewhat higher than the statewide rate of 15.3 percent and essentially unchanged from the prior year for both counties. In Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties as well as the Commonwealth, the average amount of the credit is substantial – around $2,200. Credits of this amount, when received as tax refunds, can make a significant impact on the financial stability of households. Both the percentage of households receiving EITC and the average size of the credit per return have generally grown since 2011.

The Child Tax Credit was claimed by nearly 13 percent of households in both counties in 2016, a slightly smaller percentage than Pennsylvania as a whole and a decrease from the prior year. The average Child Tax Credit amount per return was around $1,200 in all regions.

“The Child Tax Credit was claimed by nearly 13 percent of households in both counties in 2016.”

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Health & Health Care

Health and Health CareThe Health and Health Care section of this report identifies important health indicators in Pennsylvania and Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. These indicators include death from health conditions such as cancer and heart disease, death by suicide, infant and child mortality, childhood lead exposure, teen pregnancy, unhealthy behaviors such as cigarette smoking and excessive drinking, health insurance status, obesity, and the availability of health care facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes.

The rate of death from cancer is an indicator that is affected by behavior (such as smoking, which is known to cause various types of cancer) and by health care (cancer death rates decline as access to the latest treatments improve). Demographics also complicate these statistics; cancer is more prevalent

among older individuals, for instance. The cancer death rate in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties has generally been higher than for the Commonwealth as a whole, though updated data was not available from Pennsylvania Department of Health in time for publication in this year’s Indicators report.

The age-adjusted rate of death by heart disease – another leading cause of death in the U.S. – is similarly impacted by health-related behaviors and access to health care. In both counties and Pennsylvania, the rate of death by heart disease was lower in 2016 than it was in 2008. This indicator dropped to its lowest level in the time period analyzed for both counties.

All three geographic areas had lower rates of teen pregnancies in 2017 than they did ten years earlier.

Childhood lead poisoning, as identified in screenings of children younger than 72 months, is more common in Lackawanna County than in Pennsylvania as a whole. Screening for childhood lead exposure is not mandated, but there has nonetheless been growth in the percentage of children who have been tested.

Many health conditions, including but not limited to heart disease and cancer, are impacted by personal behavior. Making healthy lifestyle choices is extremely important. Eating healthy can be costly and access to healthy food can be limited, however. At a time when many area residents are unemployed or underemployed and living with low or moderate incomes, healthy choices are not always top priorities. Issues of social determinants and the existence of food deserts in the region also complicate efforts to improve population health. In two key health-related behaviors, this area has performed worse in recent years than in the state as a whole. Cigarette smoking and excessive drinking have been more prevalent in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties than in Pennsylvania, although the rate of excessive drinking in the region has pulled even with the state. Regardless, the prevalence of these high-risk behaviors is problematic. In both counties, the adult obesity rate has stood at around 30 percent in recent years.

Health insurance coverage of area residents has improved between 2010 and 2017. A considerably larger proportion of individuals had health insurance coverage in 2017 than in 2010, largely due to an increase in people covered by public health insurance. The percentage covered by private insurance has fluctuated slightly but not trended strongly up or down since 2010. As of 2018, there were 14,750 residents of the two counties who selected federal marketplace health insurance plans. Utilization of marketplace plans dropped in 2017 and 2018.

Finally, the cost of health care is an important concern. Though Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties are homes to multiple health care resources and the number of beds available in hospitals has not declined significantly, cost could impede access for those who are underinsured and uninsured. This issue has been identified in past Indicators reports, and updated data has shown no sign of improvement. Between 2012 and 2017, for example, the daily private hospital room rate has increased by over 58 percent in Lackawanna County and by nearly 69 percent in Luzerne County. The semi-private daily room rate for nursing home facilities has also grown since 2012. Furthermore, nursing home beds per 1,000 seniors have declined compared with 2012 rates, despite a recent uptick. This is a concern because the region’s growing senior population and increasing life expectancy will likely drive demand for long-term care.

64 Health & Health Care

“Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties have experienced incremental gains

in the percent of the population with health insurance coverage.”

Cancer & Heart DiseaseObesity

CancerData for 2017 was not released by Pennsylvania Department of Health in time for inclusion in this year’s Indicators report. Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, along with the state of Pennsylvania as a whole, have reported fluctuating cancer death rates in recent years. Over the years analyzed, the annual average rate of death by cancer has been about 182 in both counties. For most years, both counties had higher rates than the Commonwealth, which has had an annual average rate of 174.6. In the most recent data, Lackawanna County experienced a slight increase in the cancer death rate and Luzerne County and Pennsylvania both saw improvement.

Heart DiseaseData for 2017 was not released by Pennsylvania Department of Health in time for inclusion in this year’s Indicators report. Pennsylvania’s age-adjusted rate of death by heart disease has seen a generally declining trend, falling slightly again in 2016, the most recent data available. Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties also experienced improvement from the prior year. The statewide heart disease death rate was 15 percent lower in 2016 than it was in 2008. Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties have each shown decreases of 21 percent since 2008. Despite these improvements, both counties have been and continue to be significantly above the state rate of death by heart disease.

ObesityStaying close to 30 percent, the adult obesity rate in both counties and Pennsylvania has not varied significantly since the period of 2011-2013. While the rate in the region encompassing Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming Counties has remained consistent, the statewide obesity rate increased by one percentage point to 31 percent in the most recent data available.

Health & Health Care 65

Infant MortalityData for 2017 was not released by Pennsylvania Department of Health in time for inclusion in this year’s Indicators report. Over the last decade, the infant mortality rate has fluctuated somewhat. Pennsylvania’s infant mortality rate (measured per 1,000 live births) has declined slowly but steadily since 2010. In Lackawanna County, the infant mortality rate fell from 9.3 to 7.8 between 2010-2012 and 2014-2016, though the most recent data represents an increase compared with the prior year. Luzerne County’s current rate is 5.7, also slightly above the prior year, but lower than the statewide rate and lower than the 2010-2012 rate of 8.0. The significant fluctuation in the infant mortality rates does not indicate a specific trend upward or downward in the two-county region.

Death Rate of Children Under FiveData for 2017 was not released by Pennsylvania Department of Health in time for inclusion in this year’s Indicators report. As with the infant mortality rate, the death rate of children under five years has been slowly declining statewide – though there was a small uptick in 2016, the most recent year for which data was available. Regionally, there has not been an apparent trend upward or downward. Both counties recorded decreases in the most recent data, and increases the year before.

“Infant mortality rates in the region have fluctuated throughout the last decade.”

Infant Mortality Death Rate of Children Under Five


Childhood Lead PoisoningSuicide Rate

Childhood Lead ScreeningIn 2017, the number of cases of children younger than 72 months with tested blood lead levels (BLL) higher than five micrograms per deciliter totaled 410 for both counties combined. Statewide, 17.8 percent of children in this age group were tested, compared with 17.3 percent in Luzerne County and 15.8 percent in Lackawanna. In Luzerne County, a smaller share of children tested had elevated blood lead levels compared with Pennsylvania as a whole. Lackawanna County had a higher rate of elevated lead levels among children tested.

Pennsylvania does not require universal testing of children for elevated lead levels; tests are only mandated for children covered by Medicaid. In both counties and statewide, however, the percentage of children tested has gradually increased. The percentage of those tested with elevated BLL has fallen statewide and in Luzerne County, but has grown in Lackawanna County.

“In both counties and statewide, the percentage

of children tested for lead has gradually

increased.”

Suicide RateData for 2017 was not released by Pennsylvania Department of Health in time for inclusion in this year’s Indicators report. In 2016, the most recent year for which data was available, both counties’ age-adjusted suicide rates were somewhat higher than the statewide rate. There has been a large degree of fluctuation in the rates in both counties, although they have generally surpassed the Commonwealth’s rate for most years analyzed. The rates stood at 17.9 and 16.6 for Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties respectively, both higher than in 2008 but lower than the previous year.


OpioidsAlcohol and Tobacco

“The rate of cigarette smoking in the region had been gradually decreasing since 2011, but it increased in the period of 2015-2017.”

Alcohol and TobaccoMany chronic health conditions are linked with related health factors such as behaviors and lifestyles. Smoking and alcohol use are associated with heart disease, cancer, and high blood pressure – among other issues. Both factors analyzed here have been more prevalent in the three-county area analyzed (Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming Counties) than in the Commonwealth as a whole for the majority of periods.

The rate of cigarette smoking in the region had been gradually decreasing since 2011, but it increased in the period of 2015-2017. The region also has a higher proportion of adult cigarette smokers compared with the Commonwealth as a whole, with the rate standing at three percentage points or more above Pennsylvania for each year analyzed.

Six percent of the region’s adults engage in excessive drinking, defined as two or more alcoholic drinks daily on average for men and one or more alcoholic drinks daily on average for women. The region’s excessive drinking rate has improved in the years analyzed, and is now the same as the statewide rate, which has stood at six percent in all years for which data was available.

OpioidsThe rates of drug overdose deaths (per 100,000 people) have increased in both Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties and in Pennsylvania as a whole since 2015. While Luzerne County has consistently had the highest overdose death rate of the three areas, its rate of drug overdose deaths grew at the slowest pace.

Fentanyl was the drug most commonly associated with overdose deaths in Pennsylvania in 2017, having been reported in 67 percent of cases. It was followed by heroin (identified in 38 percent of overdose deaths), cocaine (32 percent), and benzodiazepines (31 percent).

Abuse of opioid drugs such as fentanyl and heroin sometimes begins with abuse of prescription opioids. The rate of opioid prescription has decreased annually in recent years in all three regions. Pennsylvania’s prescription rate fell by 24 percent from 2015 to 2017. Lackawanna County’s rate of opioid prescription was the second highest in the state, after Fayette County. Luzerne County has an opioid prescribing rate above the state average as well, and both counties saw less substantial decreases than the state as a whole between 2015 and 2017.


HospitalsLong-Term Care Facilities

HospitalsHospital data in 2017 and 2016 differ from previous years due to changes in reporting by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and a transition from fiscal year to calendar year reporting.

There are 12 hospitals in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, including general hospitals, specialty hospitals, and federal hospitals. Among them, the daily room rate for a private room is $1,891 in Lackawanna County and $1,932 in Luzerne County. In both counties, the rate has grown substantially over the years analyzed.

The number of beds in general hospitals has largely remained consistent since the closure of Mid Valley Hospital in Lackawanna County, which is reflected in the drop in hospital beds in Lackawanna County between 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. However, the number of beds in Luzerne County increased slightly in 2017. In that year, there were 3.3 beds per 1,000 residents in Lackawanna County and 2.7 beds both statewide and in Luzerne County.

Emergency room visits in general hospitals have fluctuated in both counties, averaging approximately 115,000 per year in Lackawanna County and over 150,000 per year in Luzerne County. In the years analyzed, the percentage of emergency room visits that result in inpatient admission has fallen by more than two percentage points in Lackawanna County and one percentage point in Luzerne County. Though this rate is not an exact indicator of ER overutilization, this trend may suggest that ER visits for non-emergent cases is an ongoing and perhaps still growing issue in the region.

Long-Term Care FacilitiesThe number of nursing homes in Pennsylvania has shown a slow decreasing trend since 2012, as has the number of nursing home beds per 1,000 senior residents. The number of nursing homes in Lackawanna County fell from 19 to 18 in the last fiscal year, while the number in Luzerne County remained the same (at 25). The number of beds per 1,000 residents aged 65 years and older has dropped in both counties since 2012, though there was a small increase in the most recent year of data in both counties and statewide. Both counties have more beds per 1,000 seniors than the state overall.

The two counties have reported significant increases in daily room rates at long-term care facilities, which is in line with statewide trends. Lackawanna County’s daily room rate has grown by 14 percent since 2012 and Luzerne County’s rate has grown by 35.5 percent. Statewide, the rate growth has been 28.5 percent in the years analyzed.


Teen PregnancyHealth Insurance Coverage

“Teen pregnancy dropped substanially in both counties from 2008 to 2017 – 49 percent in Lackawanna County and 43 percent in Luzerne County.”

Health Insurance CoverageIn 2017, 94.5 percent of Pennsylvania’s population was covered by health insurance, continuing a trend of small but steady year-over-year increases since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act. While the percent of the statewide population with public health coverage has increased, the percentage with private coverage has been largely steady. Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties have mirrored this trend, experiencing incremental gains in the percent of the population with health insurance coverage. There was a slight decrease in coverage in Luzerne County in 2017. Regionally, 3.7 percent of Lackawanna County residents and 4.9 percent of Luzerne County residents were without health insurance in 2017. Both counties exceeded ten percent uninsured in 2010. There have been similar gains in all three geographies in insurance coverage for children compared with rates in 2010, and in this area, regional improvement has exceeded statewide gains. However, Luzerne County did record an increase in uninsured children from 2016 to 2017.

The two-county total of enrollees in health plans offered through the Healthcare.gov marketplace amounted to 14,750 in 2018, down from over 16,500 individuals in each of the three previous years. Marketplace plans experienced enrollment gains in the two counties in 2016, but have since declined by about 15 percent. About 389,000 residents statewide are enrolled in marketplace plans, down from over 450,000 in 2015.

The number of people enrolled in HealthChoices, the managed care programs for Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance program, has increased in both counties and at the state level since 2015.

Teen PregnancyOver the decade analyzed, Pennsylvania reported a rapidly decreasing rate of teen pregnancies. Teen pregnancies are defined here as pregnancies among females aged 15 to 17 years. The Commonwealth finished 2017 with its lowest number and rate of teen pregnancies recorded of all the years analyzed.

Both counties also experienced significant improvement from 2008 to 2017 – a 49-percent drop in the rate of teen pregnancy in Lackawanna County and a 43 percent drop in Luzerne County.

The rate in Lackawanna County continued to fall in 2017, while Luzerne County saw a very small increase. Lackawanna County has generally had teen pregnancy rates at or below the statewide rate, except in 2012 and 2015. In recent years, Luzerne County has more frequently had a teen pregnancy rate that exceeds the statewide rate.


Civ

ic E

ngag

emen

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Civic Engagement

Civic EngagementThe Civic Engagement section of the report identifies important indicators in Lackawanna County, Luzerne County, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including veterans, nonprofit organizations, library circulation, and voter turnout.

The state of nonprofit organizations is a key indicator of regional civic engagement and community ties. For this year’s report, The Institute calculated statistics on nonprofit organizations from the IRS Master File, accessed through the Urban Institute’s National Center for Charitable Statistics. The number of nonprofits in the region has trended downward, though there were still more than 2,000 tax exempt organizations in the region as of 2018. These organizations span a variety of activity areas, including arts, culture and humanities, education, health, human services, and religion. Arts, culture, and humanities organizations have grown in number in both counties since 2016.

Libraries are nonprofit organizations that serve a particularly important role in the community. Additionally, library data is useful in determining the availability and utilization of resources. The numbers of libraries, both statewide and regionally, remain at the same levels as previous years. In 2015, there were decreases in total circulation and circulation per capita – statewide and in both counties. This may reflect shifts in the role that libraries play in communities, with less emphasis on circulation of physical items and increased focus on areas such as arts and culture, children’s programming, and technology services. In the most recent data, the total number of registered patrons fell in Luzerne County, but grew in Lackawanna County and Pennsylvania.

Voter turnout is another important indicator of civic engagement. This report tracks the total number of registered voters eligible to vote in the November election of each year, along with the voter turnout for those elections. In 2016, the most recent presidential election, 68 percent of registered voters turned out for Pennsylvania general elections. Voter turnout in Lackawanna County was even higher, with 71 percent voter turnout. Luzerne County voter turnout was comparable to the statewide average, at 67 percent. Voter turnout and the total number of registered voters dropped in the 2017 local elections, following the historical trend of decreases following presidential elections. The 2018 midterm elections saw higher voter turnout than previous midterm elections in 2014 and 2010. Luzerne County’s turnout for that election fell below the statewide rate of participation, however.

The number of military veterans in a community can be telling of the community’s success in caring for veterans and making them feel comfortable. Additionally, measuring the veteran population demonstrates the need for social services, health care, and housing directed toward their unique needs. The region remains home to a slightly larger percentage of military veterans than the Commonwealth as a whole, and the majority of these veterans are over age 65 years.

“Improved quality of life largely relies on strong civic engagement.”

72 Civic Engagement

“The number of nonprofits in the

region declined by nearly four percent

since 2016.”

Non-Profit OrganizationsThe total number of not-for-profit organizations in Pennsylvania stood at 61,051 in 2018, a decline of just over two percent since 2016. The region has also seen a downward trend in the total number of nonprofits. Between the two counties, the total number of organizations fell from 2,157 in 2016 to 2,072 in 2018 – a decline of just under four percent. The master file used for this analysis may have missing data on some organizations, however, so it is difficult to determine the degree to which this trend is driven by dissolution of existing nonprofits versus decreased reporting or other data quality issues.

Public charities comprise just under 60 percent of nonprofits in the region. This share has grown slightly in both counties since 2016. Private foundations comprise a relatively small share of all nonprofits, holding steady at six percent of Lackawanna County nonprofits and four percent of Luzerne County nonprofits.

Non-Profit Organizations

Civic Engagement 73

Non-Profit Organizations by Activity Type

Non-Profit Organizations by Activity TypeThe following tables show nonprofits broken down among major activity types. Categories with small numbers of nonprofits are not shown. The largest share of nonprofits in the region are classified as human services, followed by public and social benefit. These two categories amount to over 1,000 organizations – nearly half of the region’s nonprofits in 2018.

Arts, culture, and humanities organizations comprise nearly 200 of the region’s nonprofits, up from 131 in 2016. Lackawanna County has seen this category grow by 93 percent, and Luzerne County experienced growth of 15 percent, making it the fastest growing group among those analyzed in both counties. Environmental organizations also saw rapid growth in Lackawanna County, increasing from 23 to 28.

Human services organizations experienced a decline of 21 percent in Lackawanna County and 10 percent in Luzerne County. Mutual benefit organizations were the fastest declining group in Luzerne County, with a 20-percent drop.

74 Civic Engagement

“Both counties have experienced recent decreases in library item circulation per capita, mirroring a

statewide trend.”

Library Registration & Circulation

Library Registration & CirculationThe total number of libraries receiving state funding remained unchanged statewide and in both counties. The latest data reported by the State Library, for 2016, was unchanged from that which was reported in 2015.

There have been 19 public libraries in the two counties for the duration of the data analyzed, and the statewide total stands at 474. Among those statewide libraries, the number of registered patrons has trended slowly downward but experienced consecutive increases in 2014 and 2015. Lackawanna County has followed a similar trend. There have been several increases in Luzerne County in recent years, although 2015 saw a decrease in Luzerne County library registrations, with a drop to the lowest level since 2012.

The region’s libraries had a total circulation of over 1.7 million items in 2015. Both counties have experienced recent decreases in circulation per capita, mirroring a statewide trend. For Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties, as well as the state, total circulation and circulation per capita in 2015 were the lowest of all years analyzed.

Civic Engagement 75

Voter Registration & Participation

Voter Registration & ParticipationThe number of registered voters on both the state and regional levels has followed a predictable and stable trend since 2000, rising significantly during presidential election years, and rising by smaller amounts during other federal election years. Registration has often decreased following presidential elections.

In line with this pattern, Pennsylvania 2017 voter registration fell by nearly 300,000, with corresponding drops in both counties. Lackawanna County’s 2018 registration total fell by another 2,800 voters, marking the lowest level among years analyzed and a six-percent drop since the last presidential election. Luzerne County experienced an increase of about 3,000 voters in 2018, bringing its voter rolls to one percent above the levels seen in the last presidential election and the highest recorded since 2005.

Despite mixed results with voter registration, turnout as a percentage of registered voters was high in the 2018 general election. Both counties and the Commonwealth as a whole saw turnout greater than the midterm general elections in 2010 and 2014.

76 Civic Engagement

“Turnout as a percentage of

registered voters was high in the 2018

general election. Both counties and the

Commonwealth as a whole saw turnout

greater than the previous midterm

general elections in 2010 and 2014.”

Voter Registration & Participation

Civic Engagement 77

VeteransVeteransThe number of veterans in Pennsylvania has been decreasing steadily over the past five years, dropping from 8.4 percent of the population in 2013 to 7.3 percent in 2017. The number of veterans has fluctuated in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. Both counties experienced a general declining trend from 2012 to 2015, and in 2017 their shares of veterans among the overall populations reached their lowest levels of all years analyzed. Despite this trend, the number of veterans in the two-county region nears 33,000, and Luzerne County’s share is significantly higher than the Commonwealth’s. In both counties and statewide, over half of veterans are age 65 or older.

78 Civic Engagement

Gov

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Government Lackawanna County Fiscal Snapshot

GovernmentThis section of the report deals primarily with county government fiscal affairs. Tables consist of county and state data such as revenue, expenditures, debt, taxes, and aid to communities. The indicators reflect the size, scope, and financial health of county government. Sources of information include the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and data procured directly from the two counties’ annual financial reports, which are filed with DCED.

The statistics presented here are government-wide, meaning that the data is inclusive of each county’s component parts. They also contain details from each county’s general fund as well as all other major and minor funds for which the county is responsible.

Lackawanna County Fiscal SnapshotIn 2017, Lackawanna County had total revenues of over $177 million – an increase of approximately three percent from 2016’s revenue. Expenditures grew by seven percent, and for the first time in recent years, expenditures exceeded revenue. Lackawanna County’s long-term debt fell by just under $3 million from 2016 to 2017. This continues a declining trend seen since debt peaked in 2011. The total has fallen by eleven percent since then.

County revenue consists primarily of taxes and intergovernmental funds. Intergovernmental funds come from federal, state and local sources. They include grants, reimbursements for services, and the like. The majority of intergovernmental funds received by both counties support health and human services funds. Tax revenue, on the other hand, includes all taxes levied by the county government (predominantly property taxes). In Lackawanna County, intergovernmental revenue increased by 1.7 percent between 2016 and 2017, following a more dramatic growth in the prior year. Tax revenue grew by just over four percent from 2016 to 2017. The greatest spike in tax revenue, however, came between 2011 and 2012. This coincides with a 15.002 mill increase in the county’s property tax rate. Revenues per capita, expenditures per capita, and taxes per capita increased from 2016 to 2017 in Lackawanna County, keeping with prior year trends.

80 Government

Luzerne County Fiscal Snapshot Property Tax Rates

Luzerne County Fiscal SnapshotIn 2017, Luzerne County had total revenues of more than $242 million – the highest total of any year analyzed. This represents a 3.6-percent increase in total revenue compared with the prior year, and a growth of over 37 percent from the ten-year low seen in 2011 (before adjusting for inflation). Expenditures totaled over $222 million, two percent lower than the prior year. County expenditures amounted to 92 percent of total revenue – the lowest ratio of expenditures to revenue among all years analyzed. This is an indicator of a strengthening financial position for the county.

Luzerne County’s intergovernmental revenue (which includes transfers from other federal, state, and local sources such as grants and reimbursements for services) increased in 2016 and 2017, following previous years of declines. The $99 million in intergovernmental revenue in 2017 was the highest total among years analyzed. The majority of intergovernmental funds received by both counties support health and human services funds. Tax revenue for the county increased as well, from $117 million to $120.7 million – also the highest total among years analyzed.

Luzerne County has experienced a generally declining trend in long-term debt. Luzerne County’s debt reached a peak of more than $318 million in 2009, but grew by $9 million in 2017 [from 2016] to reach $256.8 million.

Property Tax RatesIn 2019, property tax rates in both counties remain unchanged compared with those of the last several years. Lackawanna County’s property tax rate is significantly higher than Luzerne County’s rate. For several reasons, however, this does not necessarily reflect actual property tax costs incurred by property owners. First, there are differences in how and when properties in the two counties were assessed. This means that the two counties’ ratios of assessed value for tax purposes to actual market value are different. Furthermore, tax rates included in this report do not include school taxes, which typically comprise the largest portions of all property owners’ tax bills.

Government 81

Sales TaxCommunity Aid

Sales TaxSales tax remittance in Lackawanna County and Pennsylvania grew by about two percent between the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 fiscal years. Most recently, the total sales tax remittance totaled over $80 million in Lackawanna County, $77 million in Luzerne County, and over $10 billion statewide. Data from recent years has been updated for both counties due to revisions in address files used by the Department of Revenue to attribute sales tax revenues to specific counties. As a result, Luzerne County’s remittance shifted upward by more than $30 million for 2014-2015. More recent figures have fluctuated significantly. Only the revised figure is shown in the table. The magnitude of data revisions suggests that this data may not represent a precise count of sales tax remittance for each county, but may be more effective as an approximation of the actual amount. The totals, which are unadjusted for inflation, also point to a general trend of gradual growth in sales tax revenue.

Community Investment These tables show investment from selected grant and tax credit programs offered through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Among the three programs analyzed here, Lackawanna County received investment exceeding $4 million in calendar year 2018. Luzerne County totaled $14.5 million in investment. The largest portion of this investment comes from the Local Share Account (LSA) program, which distributes revenues from the Mt. Airy Casino Resort and Mohegan Sun Pocono casinos to local projects. Projects funded locally under the LSA program include road repairs, trail construction, disaster recovery, and buildings, vehicles, and equipment for municipal governments. For all years analyzed, Luzerne County (which hosts a casino) has received substantially more LSA funding than Lackawanna County, whose LSA funding is tied to Mt. Airy Casino in Monroe County. In both counties, LSA project funding declined compared with previous years.

Both counties experienced increases in KIZ tax credits relative to past years, totaling over $3.3 million for the region. The Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) incentivize businesses to support educational programs. Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties saw diminished investment in this category, totaling $165,200 in 2018.

82 Government

Publ

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“Northeastern Pennsylvania generally remains a safe area for a region with its size and socioeconomic characteristics, and in some measures, it is getting safer.”

Public Safety

Public Safety Public Safety indicators in this section identify important statistics for Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, as well as for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, used in evaluating the health and efficiency of safety services. These statistics include crime rates, drug-related offenses, vehicle crashes, Driving Under the Influence (DUI) offenses, alcohol-induced crashes, domestic violence offenses, and police officer and fire department statistics.

Generally, this section of the report includes indicators which help measure the quality of life in Pennsylvania as well as in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. A low crime rate is typically a feature that makes an area attractive to potential residents and businesses. Additionally, it is an indicator of the social well-being of a community, because crime is interrelated with other social, economic, and public health problems such as unemployment, poverty, and substance abuse. Breaking the cycle of poverty and crime requires tremendous effort. However, this effort can be rewarding both in terms of quality of life and by making a region more economically successful. Strong public safety, social service, and health care infrastructure working together with government and community members are integral.

Northeastern Pennsylvania generally remains a safe area for a region with its size and socioeconomic characteristics, and in some measures, it is getting safer. In both counties, property crimes have dropped to the lowest levels in the past decade, driven largely by falling numbers of burglaries and larceny theft offenses. Property crime like burglary and theft are often associated with drug addiction. Drug abuse offenses, while rising in both counties since 2011, leveled off slightly in 2017. Given the depth and severity of the ongoing opioid addiction crisis facing the region and many communities around the country, it remains too soon to tell if these statistics represent a sustained improvement in this area.

Violent crime statistics have been uneven in recent years, though total violent crimes from both counties in 2017 nearly approached decade highs. Further, domestic violence is unfortunately still prevalent within the study region. This is a difficult phenomenon to measure; in this report, it is defined as the total number of family offenses as noted in the Uniform Crime Reporting System. Offenses against children and family include abuse and cruelty to spouses, children, and other family members, child and spousal neglect and desertion, and nonpayment of child support and alimony. Statistics for 2017 showed increases in both counties, while the statewide number of reported family offenses grew to the highest number in at least a decade. This could reflect either an increase in the occurrence of these offenses , crackdowns in enforcement in this area, or both.

The police presence in a community can be closely correlated to its crime statistics. Though in many cases more police resources contribute to lower crime rates, the number of reported offenses sometimes increases as a result of more enforcement. Both counties have had a much greater police presence in recent years than in 2000. There were 288 more officers in the region in 2016 than there were in 2000.

Statewide, as well as within the counties, motor vehicle crashes can unfortunately result in fatalities and injuries. Both alcohol-related and pedestrian crash fatalities in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties have fallen, reflecting recent statewide trends. Overall, crash fatalities have fluctuated in both counties, but there is a general downward trend in the percentage of crashes in which injuries or fatalities occur.

There were 104 fire departments in the two-county region as of early 2018. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some fire departments in Pennsylvania are experiencing difficulties recruiting and retaining volunteers. There were 3,226 volunteer firefighters in the two-county region in 2018, making up about 86 percent of the region’s total firefighting force.

84 Public Safety

Property Crime

Property CrimeIn 2017, Lackawanna County’s total number of property crimes broke a five-year downward streak – standing at 3,463 (only slightly higher than the year before). This represents an uptick of two percent from 2016’s figures, but remains the second-lowest property crime total for Lackawanna County in a decade. This trend was driven by increases in larceny theft, motor vehicle theft, as declines in burglary and arson were insufficient to offset these increases.

Luzerne County’s total property crime figures entered a fifth year of declines in 2017, at 5,168 total crimes reported – the lowest in over a decade. As with Lackawanna County, Luzerne County experienced a substantial improvement in rates of burglary and arson. Luzerne County also experienced declines in larceny theft. Motor vehicle theft was the only component of the property crime index that increased in Luzerne County. It rose compared with 2016 lows, but it is a small share of property crimes overall.

The Commonwealth has seen similar improvement trends. In 2017, the largest two categories of property crimes – burglary and larceny theft – experienced declines from the prior year and even larger declines compared with ten years ago. Though motor vehicle thefts rose compared with the prior year, burglary and larceny offenses reported statewide decreased by nearly seven percent and three percent, respectively, between 2016 and 2017.

Public Safety 85

“Lackawanna County experienced year-over-year increases in the number of violent crimes reported.”

Violent Crime

Violent CrimeLackawanna County experienced year-over-year increases in the number of violent crimes reported from 2013 to 2017 — a 21-percent growth. While the county did experience a historically low year regarding violent crimes in 2013, the 494 reported violent crimes in 2017 represent the highest number since 2012, and third-highest within the last decade. However, while the driving factor in previous years’ increases was aggravated assault (which increased by 19 percent from 2013 to 2016), the most explanatory variable in 2017 was robbery (which spiked by 34 percent from 2016 to 2017). In comparison, aggravated assaults in Lackawanna County fell by nearly three percent during the last year.

Luzerne County reported 914 total violent crimes committed in 2017 – a 9.5-percent increase from the prior year, and an 11-percent increase over the county’s decade low in 2013. Unlike Lackawanna County, whose rise in violent crime was largely attributable to increases in robbery, aggravated assault was the culprit in Luzerne County’s rise in crime. It rose by 18 percent in the last year. There were three more murders in 2017 than the prior year, while the incidence of reported rape decreased.

Overall violent crime generally decreased across the Commonwealth from 2008 to 2015, when a slight uptick in total violent crimes reported broke this trend. In 2017, total violent crime in Pennsylvania rose for its second consecutive year to 40,895 – a 1.3-percent increase from the prior year. These figures, however, remain nearly 25 percent beneath decade highs that occurred in 2008. This trend is driven by profound decreases in robbery and aggravated assault.

86 Public Safety

“Drug-related offenses did not increase in either county from

2016 to 2017.”

Drug Abuse Offenses

Drug Abuse OffensesDrug abuse offenses include the manufacture, sale, and possession of drugs. Both counties experienced flat to slightly declining trends in drug abuse offenses from 2006 through 2010. Since 2012, the number of drug offenses in Lackawanna County has increased each year – reaching 1,095 in 2016 before remaining essentially flat in 2017. The county has seen a 55-percent increase since its recent low in 2012.

Luzerne County has also experienced dramatic growth in drug abuse offenses in recent years. Though the total dropped between 2014 and 2015, it reached a peak of 2,192 offenses in 2016 before falling slightly in 2017. This amount is over twice the number of drug offenses reported in 2010. The Commonwealth as a whole has also seen an increasing trend in recent years, including a 14-percent increase over the last two years alone.

Public Safety 87

88 Public Safety

DUI OffensesAlcohol Related Crash Deaths

“Statewide, the total number of DUI offenses entered its tenth year of decline.”

DUI OffensesLackawanna County’s total number of DUI offenses fluctuated from 2007 to 2010, before dropping from 1,181 in 2010 to 858 in 2011. Since then, the county has generally experienced between 700 and 800 DUI offenses per year, with an average of 713 per year over the past five years. The total decreased in 2017 after an increase in 2016.

Luzerne County has also experienced little substantial change in DUI offenses over the last several years. Since 2010, the county has averaged just over 1,221 DUI offenses per year. Nonetheless, in the most recent data, Luzerne County saw a slight increase to reach the highest total since 2008.

Statewide, the total number of DUI offenses entered its tenth year of decline – a 16-percent drop since 2008. DUI offenses in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties have consistently accounted for about four percent of all DUI offenses in Pennsylvania.

Alcohol Related Crash DeathsLackawanna County has averaged six alcohol-related crash deaths per year over the past decade. Luzerne County’s average number of alcohol-related crash deaths per year has been 12 over the last ten years. After increasing from five to nine incidents from 2015 to 2016, the total number of alcohol-related crash deaths in Lackawanna County fell to four – the lowest since 2010. Similarly, Luzerne County’s total number of deaths reported fell from eight in 2016 to five in 2017 – the lowest in over a decade. Statewide, there has been an apparent downward trend in this statistic; the Commonwealth’s total declined by 45 percent from 2008 to 2017.

88 Public Safety

Public Safety 89

“The number of crashes resulting in

fatalities and injuries has fallen significantly

- likely attributable in part to safety

innovations in vehicles.”

Motor Vehicle Crashes

Motor Vehicle CrashesIn 2017, there were 2,712 motor vehicle crashes in Lackawanna County. This number has increased for four consecutive years. Luzerne County, on the other hand, reported a second consecutive year of decreases in 2017 (at 3,604 incidents). The Commonwealth total decreased for the second straight year, reaching 128,188 crashes. All three regions still recorded fewer crashes compared with the base year of 2000.

Statewide, the number of crashes resulting in fatalities and injuries has fallen significantly – and a larger number have resulted in property damage only. This trend extends to both counties as well. Between 2000 and 2017, the percentage of crashes involving only property damage (no injuries or fatalities) increased from about 40 percent to around 55 percent in both the region and statewide. The significant decline in crashes with fatalities and/or injuries is likely attributable in part to safety innovations in vehicles.

In 2017, there were six pedestrian crash deaths in the two counties combined, and 150 statewide. The two counties have ranged from six to 15 pedestrian crash deaths per year for the years analyzed, with no clear upward or downward trend. The 46 pedestrian deaths since 2013 represent about six percent of all statewide pedestrian deaths in that period, though the region represents only about four percent of the Commonwealth’s total population and less than five percent of the Commonwealth’s total motor vehicle crashes during that time

Public Safety 89

Offenses Against Children & Families

Offenses Against Children & FamiliesOffenses against families and children include abuse of spouses and children, child neglect, and nonpayment of child support and alimony. There has been some fluctuation of these offenses reported in the two counties. In the preliminary data for 2017, the two counties tallied 542 such offenses – over 90 more than the prior year.

In Lackawanna County, family offenses trended downward from 2009 through 2015, but increased in 2016 and 2017. Luzerne County experienced a steady rise in children and family offenses between 2008 and 2014, reaching a peak of nearly 350 in 2013. The total dropped by 2015 but has trended upwards since, reaching 332 in 2017. There has also been an upward trend statewide, with substantial increases since 2015.

“There has been some fluctuation of these offenses reported in the two counties.”

90 Public Safety

Police & Fire Departments

PoliceLackawanna County’s police force has generally grown since 2012, with the exception of a drop from 361 to 360 officers between 2012 and 2013. Departments in the county added 127 officers between 2000 and 2016 and the amount of officers per 1,000 residents has increased from 1.5 to 2.1.

In 2016, Luzerne County experienced its first decrease in the total number of police officers since 2012 (at 622). Overall, the county’s total number of officers remains higher than it was in 2000, as does its ratio of 2.0 per 1,000 residents. Both counties’ ratios of officers per 1,000 residents are slightly lower than the statewide ratio. The Commonwealth as a whole also reported a drop in total police officers in 2016.

Fire DepartmentsAs of early 2018, there were 36 fire departments in Lackawanna County and 68 fire departments in Luzerne County. This represents an increase of one department in Luzerne County. There were 3,735 active firefighters between the two counties. Approximately 86 percent of them were volunteers. Updated data in 2019 was not available. In late 2018 The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania indicated that volunteer fire departments comprise 90 of all fire departments in the state and that volunteers now numbered approximately 38,000 compared to 300,000 in the 1970s.

“As of early 2018, there were 3,735

active firefighters between the two

counties, and approximately 86

percent of them were volunteers.”

Public Safety 91

Juvenile Justice

School Safety School safety incidents reported include a range of misconduct. A large share of incidents involved fights, disorderly conduct, minor altercations, other harassment or intimidation, bullying, and possession or use of tobacco or controlled substances. In the 2017-2018 school year, there were 543 documented school misconduct incidents in Lackawanna County and 829 in Luzerne. This represents a 23-percent increase for Lackawanna County. Luzerne County’s figures remain unchanged from the previous year.

In Lackawanna County, the first increase in misconduct incidents in five years took place during the 2017-2018 academic period. Luzerne County’s record of school misconduct reports has traditionally been more variable. Both counties’ rates per 1,000 enrolled students have generally remained below the statewide average, however, with the exception of Luzerne County in 2015-2016.

Juvenile Arrests Juvenile arrests shown here pertain to arrests made for several categories of crimes included in the Uniform Crime Report, such as violent crimes, liquor law, drug possession, and many others. Juvenile runaways are excluded.

In 2017, Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties had 600 and 910 juvenile arrests, respectively. These numbers represent slight increases from the prior year – up from a 10-year low for Lackawanna County and the third consecutive increase in Luzerne County. Still, the 2017 figures show a major reduction in juvenile arrests compared with 2008. The 2017 totals are 37 percent lower than 2008 for Lackawanna County and 43 percent lower in Luzerne County. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has experienced an even more substantial reduction, with a 56-percent decrease in juvenile arrests since 2008.

School Safety Juvenile Arrests

“In the 2017-2018 school year, there were 543 documented school misconduct incidents in Lackawanna County and 829 in Luzerne County.”

92 Public Safety

Envi

ronm

ent

Environment Recycling

“Many of the region’s critical environmental challenges relate to its industrial past.”

EnvironmentThe Environment section of the report focuses on several key indicators, including recycling, waste management, brownfields and abandoned mine lands, and air and water quality.

The amount of waste generated in both counties has increased. In 2018, Lackawanna County generated over 326,000 tons of waste – a substantial increase from the prior year. Luzerne County generated over 304,000 tons – also an increase. Municipal waste was the largest component of all waste generated in both counties. Statewide data on recycled materials has been tabulated inconsistently; however, in 2016 the two counties accounted for over 52,000 pounds of single-stream, plastic, metal, glass, and organics recyclable material – about five percent of the statewide total.

Many of the region’s critical environmental challenges relate to its industrial past. The lingering effects of coal mining and other heavy industries include contaminated brownfield sites, coal refuse sites, mine subsidence, mine fires, and acid mine drainage. Some of these issues are difficult to quantify or measure. In 2017, there were a total of 32 sites in the region designated under either the statewide (HSCA) or federal (CERCLA) programs for remediation. Cleanup of these sensitive sites, which often involve bankrupt owners, abandoned facilities, or facilities where hazardous materials have been improperly disposed, is an important step in preventing further harm and facilitating return to productive use. The region is also home to seven percent of Pennsylvania’s abandoned mine land sites and nearly 30 percent of its anthracite coal refuse sites. As of 2017, there were six pilot projects operating for Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation in the two counties – accounting for half the total projects in existence statewide.

Indicators have been positive in terms of the region’s air and water quality. Air Quality Index (AQI) scores are generally in the good range, and annual monitoring of the Susquehanna River by the Chesapeake Bay Project shows normal results in several metrics of water quality.

RecyclingStatewide statistics on recycled materials have been inconsistent in recent years. The most recent data here is from 2016. At that time, recycled tonnage had varied significantly in both counties. The total tonnage of Lackawanna County’s recycled material, as a percentage of the statewide total, spiked in 2014 and remained disproportionately high in the years since, accounting for about 30 percent of all recycled materials statewide in 2015 and 2016. In 2014, DEP attributed this anomaly to large amounts of materials recycled from the University of Scranton’s demolition of the former YWCA building and construction of Leahy Hall. Luzerne County has also accounted for an average of two to three percent of the total statewide tonnage, roughly approximating its share of the statewide population.

Among common categories of household materials, both counties and the Commonwealth as a whole increased the amount of single-stream recycled materials generated between 2015 and 2016. Both counties also saw increases in metals recycled. Lackawanna County saw growth in tonnage of plastics and residential organics as well. Among these selected categories, the two counties comprised about five percent of the statewide total in each of the last two years.

94 Environment

“Total waste production increased

in both counties.”

Waste Facilities Brownfields

Waste FacilitiesLackawanna County generated over 326,000 tons of waste in 2018 – a substantial increase from the prior year. Luzerne County generated over 304,000 tons (also an increase). Municipal waste was the largest component of all waste generated in both counties. Lackawanna County experienced significant growth in residual waste and construction waste, and Luzerne County’s overall increase came primarily from an increase in municipal waste.

The region is home to three landfills as of 2019, all within Lackawanna County. They comprise 579 permitted acres.

BrownfieldsThere were six Lackawanna County sites listed in Pennsylvania DEP’s Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (HSCA). Five additional sites in Lackawanna County are listed under the federal CERCLA program – the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (commonly known as Superfund). Luzerne County had 15 HSCA sites and four federal Superfund sites as of early 2019. According to DEP, most of these sites involve facilities with bankrupt owners, abandoned facilities, and facilities where hazardous materials have been improperly disposed.

Environment 95

Abandoned Mine Lands

Abandoned Mine LandsAbandoned mine lands (AMLs) refer to any of the 250,000 acres of mine lands left abandoned across Pennsylvania. There are AMLs in 43 of the Commonwealth’s 67 counties. Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties together are home to seven percent of the state’s 5,617 abandoned mine lands, with a total of 412 between the two counties. As of the most recent report in 2013, there were 165 sites in Lackawanna County and 247 in Luzerne County.

The Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Economic Development Pilot Program for FY 2016 was approved by Congress in 2015. The pilot program provided U.S. treasury funds to each of the three Appalachian state AML programs, including Pennsylvania. The funds were to be used for the reclamation of AML in conjunction with economic and community development and reuse goals. The sites could be former mines, coal refuse areas, areas with acid mine drainage, and more. Congress then approved funding for FYs 2017 and 2018. In 2016 both Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties each had one pilot program site. The following year, Lackawanna County had two AML revitalization sites and Luzerne County had four. As the number of sites in the two counties rose, the overall state number fell; in 2016 there were 18 sites and in 2017 there were only 12.

Coal refuse refers to any waste coal or other materials (such as shale, clay, or rock) that are brought above ground or removed from coal mines during mining activities. The term also refers to the leftover materials that are separated from coal during cleaning operations. Coal refuse sites are areas where such materials are disposed. There are 10 refuse sites in Luzerne County. This number has increased over the years, from seven sites in 2013. Lackawanna County has two refuse sites. These totals may have fluctuated due to an increase or decrease in mining activities in conjunction with removal of refuse sites. There are 42 coal refuse sites in Pennsylvania. From 2014 to 2017 the percentage of the amount of sites between the two counties has slowly grown, as has its share of the states’ total coal refuse sites. Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties had 29 percent of the state’s coal refuse sites in 2017; in 2014 they only had 21 percent.

96 Environment

“Indicators have been positive in terms of the region’s air and

water quality.”

Air Quality

Air QualityThe Air Quality Index (AQI) is used to measure air quality. AQI reads five different pollutants to assess the safety of the nation’s air quality. They are ground level ozone (smog), particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. The overall AQI is the highest AQI of any of the five individual pollutants. Scores of 0 to 50 are considered good air quality, 51 to 100 are considered moderate, 101 to 150 are considered unhealthy to sensitive groups, 151 to 200 are considered unhealthy to everyone, 201 to 200 are considered very unhealthy, and scores above 301 are considered hazardous for all people.

Monitoring stations in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties have generally reported AQI ratings in the “Good” range. AQI data changes daily and is available in real time from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Air Quality. Users can visit their website for current data. Annual data is collected from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, including the number of unhealthy air quality days and the median AQI for the calendar year.

Over the past several years, Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties have reported no unhealthy AQI days. The median AQI for Lackawanna County was 33, and 31 for Luzerne County. This represents an improvement for both counties from the prior year, marking a 25-percent improvement since 2000 for Lackawanna County and 31-percent improvement for Luzerne County. Both figures are in the “Good” range.

Environment 97

Water Quality

Water QualityWater quality monitoring is conducted at several sites in the region. One site – the Susquehanna River at Wilkes-Barre, which is monitored by the Chesapeake Bay Program – has consistent and regular data necessary for inclusion in this report. Two key parameters of water quality (pH, which is commonly used to measure acidity in water, and total dissolved solids) were analyzed. The vast majority of Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties are within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

A pH of 7 represents a neutral measurement. A value greater than 7 indicate basic or alkaline conditions, and values less than 7 indicate acidic conditions. The pH of natural waters is between 6.0 and 8.5. Any values less than 4.5 and above 9.5 tend to be severely damaging to ecosystems. The Susquehanna River tested as 7.42 pH most recently, or slightly less acidic and more alkaline than neutral water. This year’s reading is a decrease from previous measurements, which had averaged 7.73 over the previous four years.

The concentration of total dissolved solids (TDS) is a measure of the amount of dissolved materials in water. These materials include sodium, calcium, magnesium, and others. Fresh water usually has TDS levels between 0 and 1,000 mg/L, dependent on the geography and attributing factors in the region. Values over 500 mg/L are considered elevated and can be unsuitable for drinking or household use. While TDS is not considered a primary pollutant, water with a high TDS concentration may indicate elevated levels of ions such as aluminum, arsenic, copper, lead, nitrate, and others that do pose health concerns. Since 2013, TDS levels in the Susquehanna River have consistently been below 200 mg/L, and in 2017 fell to the lowest level since 2013.

98 Environment

Infr

astr

uctu

re

“Infrastructure pertains to transportation and traffic, energy, and broadband access.”

Infrastructure

InfrastructureThe Infrastructure section of this report contains data that identifies patterns and trends in commuting, transportation infrastructure, motor vehicles, home heating fuels, energy prices, and home internet access.

Understanding the public’s means of transportation reveals insight into a region’s environmental impact, as well as the impact of its employment dynamics. Similar to those in the rest of the state, a significant majority of workers in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties commute to work by driving alone. The proportion of commuters using alternative forms of transportation has fluctuated a bit, but does not appear much different in 2017 than it was in 2000, though average commute times have trended slightly higher.

Natural gas has remained the most-used home heating fuel over the past decade. It has also continued to have the lowest cost of all energy sources analyzed. The use of fuel oil has declined steadily since 2000, in favor of electricity and natural gas. This is likely a result of consistent increases in the price of home heating oil. Between 2016 and 2018, the cost of oil per million BTU has risen sharply.

The number of motor vehicle registrations is an indicator of traffic trends. More vehicles registered typically means more vehicle miles traveled, which can result in traffic congestion. Vehicle registrations can also indicate economic activity. Lackawanna County has generally experienced an increase in registered cars compared with those in year 2000, despite a more recent declining trend. Luzerne County has experienced little sustained growth in passenger car registrations, and recorded a drop of several thousand in 2017. On Interstate 81 in Luzerne County, traffic counts have grown at a rate outpacing the state average for road segments of a similar classification. Statewide, traffic volume has being growing on Interstate highways but declining on other highway types.

In 2018, the total number of airport passengers dropped slightly, while the number of scheduled departures and volume of freight mail grew. Nearly 528,000 passengers and over 400,000 pounds of freight and mail came through the airport in 2018. As the region’s transportation and warehousing industry grows, the airport will remain an important asset for both passenger and freight air traffic.

Broadband access remained critical to each county’s economic growth, as it is necessary for economic development. Widespread access to the newest and most essential technologies makes any location a more attractive place to locate a business. Home internet access is also an important community indicator; it has become a necessity due to its importance in individuals’ and families’ education, employment, healthcare, and social services. The two-county region enjoys nearly universal access to wireless technology and other broadband services. Household-level internet usage has also increased, reaching about 80 percent of households regionally in 2017. Smartphone adoption is widespread as well, approaching three fourths of the region’s households.

100 Infrastructure

Transportation Mobility

Transportation Mobility Despite some shifts, driving alone remains the most common way to commute in both Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. This share is over four-fifths of workers in the region. In 2017, this percentage rose in Lackawanna County and fell in Luzerne. Among modes of alternative transportation, carpooling remains the most frequently utilized. Public transportation usage rose slightly in both counties compared with the prior year, while walking declined slightly in Luzerne and fell by a larger share in Lackawanna.

From 2000 to 2016, the average travel time to work increased by just under two minutes in Lackawanna County (reaching 21.6 minutes) and by just over one minute in Luzerne County (reaching 22.5 minutes). Both counties reached new highs for commute time in 2016, and recorded small declines in 2017. However, the mean travel time to work is lower in both counties than in the Commonwealth as a whole, which grew to over 27 minutes in 2017 – nearly two minutes longer than in 2000.

The estimated share of households with no vehicles available has fluctuated in both counties, averaging just over ten percent over the past several years. The total number of zero-vehicle households in both counties grew to 22,820 in 2017, more than in the previous years’ estimates but still lower than nearly 24,000 in 2014.

Infrastructure 101

Traffic CountsBridges

Traffic CountsThere are three locations in the two counties where Automatic Traffic Recorders (ATRs) are installed. ATRs count traffic volume and speed data on a continuous basis, 365 days per year. The local sites are Interstate 81 in Wilkes-Barre Township, Interstate 80 in Foster Township, and State Route 307 in Newton Township. No 2017 data was available for the Newton Township or Foster Township locations in 2017. Traffic counts are conducted less frequently in other locations within the two counties, so that data is not reported here.

The years from 2013 to 2017 experienced growth in traffic volume in both I-81 in Wilkes-Barre Township and I-80 in Foster Township. Since 2013, Interstate 80 in Foster Township (in the southern part of Luzerne County) has seen average daily traffic rise over 11 percent, with the largest increase between 2014 and 2015. Interstate 81 in Wilkes-Barre Township has fluctuated from year to year, but the 2017 total represents the highest count of all years analyzed.

Interstate 81 in Luzerne County experienced traffic growth of over two percent between 2013 and 2017. This segment is classified as an urban interstate; statewide, urban interstates grew only 1.2 percent from 2012 to 2017 – about half the pace of traffic growth on I-81 in Luzerne County. Statewide, rural interstates have experienced the most significant growth in traffic counts, while other highway types have seen declines in traffic counts. Overall, there has been a 1.5-percent decline in traffic counts across all roads of all types for which PennDOT collects data.

BridgesA bridge is considered structurally deficient if it has deteriorated structural elements. Structurally deficient bridges are characterized by reduced load-carry capacity and require frequent maintenance or rehabilitation. This designation does not imply that the bridge is unsafe, however. In 2018, the Federal Highway Administration’s National Bridge Inventory changed its procedures for bridge evaluation and no longer reports the number of structurally deficient bridges. Instead bridges are categorized into good, fair, and poor.

Between Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, 779 bridges were counted in the 2018 National Bridge Inventory – three more than the prior year. Of those bridges, 18.7 and 26.6 percent of bridges were classified as poor. For Lackawanna County, this is a decrease from the prior year, and for Luzerne County, it is a slight increase.

Statewide, the percentage of bridges classified as poor fell for the second straight year to 16.6 percent, a smaller share of bridges than either Lackawanna or Luzerne counties.

“Statewide, the percentage of bridges classified as poor fell for the second straight year to 16.6 percent, a smaller share of bridges than either Lackawanna or Luzerne Counties.”

102 Infrastructure

Motor Vehicle Registrations

Motor Vehicle RegistrationsPassenger vehicle registrations in Lackawanna County have increased considerably compared with those in 2000. However, the county total of 120,646 registered passenger vehicles represents a significant decline from 2014 through 2016. Luzerne County passenger car registrations have fluctuated, and in 2017 fell to the lowest level in recent years. Overall, the two-county region has seen a 0.3 percent increase in passenger car registrations from 2000 to 2017, but a three-percent drop from 2016 to 2017. Statewide, there has been more consistent growth in passenger car registrations since 2000, but 2017 marked a considerable drop from the prior year.

Both counties and the state have seen a generally increasing trend in the number of registered trucks over 5,000 pounds. The number of registered trucks under 5,000 pounds continued to decrease in both counties and across the state, and it appears as though these trucks are being replaced by larger trucks in higher weight classifications. The number of registered motorcycles in both counties has increased by nearly 70 percent since 2000, and registration for both buses and trailers has also grown at a considerable pace.

Infrastructure 103

Home Heating Fuels

Home Heating FuelsUtility gas has remained the most widespread method of home heating fuel in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties from 2000 to 2017. Though this share declined slightly in both areas, natural gas remains the heating fuel for nearly half of homes in Luzerne County and nearly 64 percent of homes in Lackawanna County.

Since 2000, electricity has eclipsed fuel oil as the second largest home heating source. In 2015, the percentage of homes heated with electricity rose slightly in Lackawanna County and fell in Luzerne County (compared with the prior year). Fuel oil usage has rapidly decreased in both counties, though its share in Lackawanna County grew slightly in 2017. Regardless, the percentage of homes heated by fuel oil, kerosene, and other similar fuels dropped by nearly 50 percent in Lackawanna County and over 40 percent in Luzerne County since 2000.

Other energy sources, including coal and propane, comprise much smaller shares. Statewide trends have been similar, with a slower shift toward natural gas and electricity amid declining use of fuel oil.

“Utility gas has remained the most widespread method of home heating fuel in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties from 2000 to 2017.”

104 Infrastructure

Energy Price TrendsAirport

Energy Price TrendsThe price of natural gas per million BTU rose by 12 percent in 2018, but still remains lower than any year analyzed prior to 2016. Prices of other energy sources analyzed – oil, propane, and electricity, also increased in 2018. Oil experienced the largest increase, at 17 percent. Propane and electricity recorded much smaller increases, but had much higher costs per million BTU.

AirportIn 2018, the total number of passengers traveling through Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport declined slightly after several years of growth. Nonetheless, the number of scheduled departures grew to over 5,500. During the Great Recession and subsequent years, scheduled departures fell but have since trended upwards. Furthermore, while freight/mail volumes have fluctuated, there has been an average of 391,000 pounds per year over the past five years, with over 400,000 pounds most recently.

The percentage of flights arriving on-time fell slightly in 2018. However, the average delay in minutes fell to the lowest levels seen since 2015 among both arrivals and departures. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport’s on-time performance has generally been on par with or slightly better than larger airports such as Philadelphia, Newark, John F. Kennedy, and Baltimore/Washington. The percentage of flights cancelled remained within its typical range, at three percent.

Infrastructure 105

104 Infrastructure

Internet Access

Internet AccessPublic data on broadband availability is limited. Data previously presented in the Indicators report from broadbandmap.gov is no longer being updated. However, the most recent data suggests that wireless service and broadband technologies such as DSL and cable internet are largely available in both counties, while fiber internet is less widespread.

The share of households with any internet subscription has been growing since detailed data has been kept by the Census Bureau (2015). As of 2017, 80 percent of the region’s households have internet subscriptions (compared with 82 percent statewide). Over 72 percent of households in the region have smartphones – a proportion that grew considerably from 66 percent in 2016. While internet access is less widespread among lower income households, more than half of regional and statewide households with annual income under $20,000 have internet access. “Eighty percent of the

region’s households have internet subscriptions and over 72 percent of households have smartphones.”

106 Infrastructure

We serve about 1.4 million customers in 29 counties. We maintain about 50,000 miles of power lines – about enough to reach around the world twice – in central and eastern Pennsylvania.

We’ve earned high marks for customer satisfaction. We handle more than 7 million customer interactions each year, and have consistently won awards and ranked highly among companies in the United States for customer service and satisfaction. We’ve won 25 J.D. Power and Associates awards for top-quality service to our residential and business customers.

We’re building reliable systems for today and for the future. PPL Electric Utilities continues to make significant investments to improve the electric delivery system – replacing aging facilities and building new ones to meet growth in demand and to make our network even more reliable, resilient and secure. We’ve been an industry leader for nearly 30 years in helping customers in need. We were one of the first utilities to offer programs to help low-income customers pay heating bills. We spend more than $70 million annually to help low-income customers.

108 Demographics

MAKING OUR CLIENT’S VISION A REALITY

At Borton-Lawson, we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality solutions, done so in a team-orientated environment.

OUR SOLUTIONS

• Oil & Gas – Provide integrated, multi-discipline solutions for upstream, midstream, and downstream projects in shale plays throughout the country.

• Power – Deliver responsive and innovative engineering solutions focused on full life cycle analysis from constructability to operations and maintenance.

• Land Planning & Design – Add value to undeveloped areas and enhance communities by increasing worth and usefulness of existing land developments.

• Life Cycle Solutions – Provide customized solutions throughout the entire lifespan of the asset by leveraging technology and specialized industry expertise for facility optimization.

• Transportation – Provide cost-effective solutions and successful project completion centered around collaboration and project coordination.

• Industrial – Deliver innovative design, construction, and maintenance of manufacturing facilities for productivity and efficiency.

• Water – Provide comprehensive services for critical water infrastructure needs.

• Glass – Provide fully integrated 3D solutions by combining innovative technologies and our glass experience to deliver an interactive and collaborative design experience

www.borton-lawson.com 570.821.1999

Commonwealth Health –one of the state's largest healthcare networks. And while we are allover the Northeastern Pennsylvania map, literally, our focus is on you.

What should you expect from this network?

• Less wait in hospital ERs with the 30-Minutes-or-Less ER Service Pledge.

• Improved access to specialty care locally.

• Most major insurances accepted, including GHP.

• Online scheduling.

With 6 hospitals, over 70 clinics, home health services and more, we can offer you thestrength of an entire network. This means access to shared clinical expertise, coordinationof care and improved access to specialty care locally.

We share a commitment to exceptional care - from some of the latest treatments and technology to the talented doctors, nurses and staff working together to make our hospitals great places to receive care.

Berwick Hospital Center • First Hospital • Moses Taylor Hospital • Regional Hospital of Scranton • Tyler Memorial Hospital • Wilkes-Barre General Hospital

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One of the nation’s most innovative health services organizations,

Geisinger serves more than 1.5 million patients in Pennsylvania

and New Jersey. The system includes 13 hospital campuses,

a 560,000-member health plan, two research centers and

the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.

Geisinger has repeatedly garnered national attention, most recently

for launching Fresh Food Farmacy®, a food-as-medicine approach

to treating diabetes and food insecurity, and Springboard Health,

an initiative to improve the health of an entire community.

In addition to fulfilling its purpose to care for patients, members and

each other, Geisinger has a long-standing commitment to medical

education, research and community service, as well as to using

technology and data to improve both individual and population health.

Classic Properties is one of the largest real estate brokerages in Northeast Pennsylvania. Our four regional offices serve 10 counties and our 120 licensed agents. Classic focuses on residential and commercial sales and rentals. In 2018 we closed 1,409 transactions for a total of $206,000,000 in sales, and were the #1 company in Lackawanna County. At Classic Properties we focus on giving superior service to our clients through our experienced agent base and cutting edge technology. To every relationship, we bring a practiced eye for recognizing the unique value of a property and for understanding the discerning needs of our clients. We believe that all our clients deserve a high level of service throughout their real estate experience. Steven Farrell, Owner/Broker Corporate & Sales Office 324 S. State Street, Clarks Summit 570-587-7000. classicproperties.com

___________________

Classic Properties is one of the largest real estate brokerages in Northeast Pennsylvania. Our four regional offices serve 10 counties and our 120 licensed agents. Classic focuses on residential and commercial sales and rentals. In 2018 we closed 1,409 transactions for a total of $206,000,000 in sales, and were the #1 company in Lackawanna County. At Classic Properties we focus on giving superior service to our clients through our experienced agent base and cutting edge technology. To every relationship, we bring a practiced eye for recognizing the unique value of a property and for understanding the discerning needs of our clients. We believe that all our clients deserve a high level of service throughout their real estate experience. Steven Farrell, Owner/Broker Corporate & Sales Office 324 S. State Street, Clarks Summit 570-587-7000. classicproperties.com

___________________

Classic Properties is one of the largest real estate brokerages in Northeast Pennsylvania. Our four regional offices serve 10 counties and our 120 licensed agents. Classic focuses on residential and commercial sales and rentals. In 2018 we closed 1,409 transactions for a total of $206,000,000 in sales, and were the #1 company in Lackawanna County.

At Classic Properties we focus on giving superior service to our clients through our experienced agent base and cutting edge technology. To every relationship, we bring a practiced eye for recognizing the unique value of a property and for understanding the discerning needs of our clients. We believe that all our clients deserve a high level of service throughout their real estate experience.

Riggs Asset Management Company is a locally‐owned investment advisory firm founded nearly 30 years ago with a mission to provide our clients with confidence in their financial well‐being—today and for future generations. Our team of investment professionals has more than 130 years of combined investment experience and has managed portfolios through good and bad markets for five decades. We have chosen to locate our firm in the Wyoming Valley where our staff of nine, live and work locally reinvesting their time and treasure back in to the local economy. Our goals for Northeastern Pennsylvania are in alignment with The Institute’s goals—a strong, healthy and vibrant community.

www.riggsadvisors.com





Berkshire ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC

Portfolio Management Since 1986

Berkshire is a fee-based, SEC registered* advisory firm serving the portfolio management needs of personal high net worth and institutional clients. Over the past 30 years, we have successfully implemented equity, fixed income (taxable & tax-free) and balanced portfolios. Our guiding principle is a belief that success is achieved by combining rigorous, well-crafted investment processes with an exceptional level of client service and attention to detail.

1-800-897-3057 [email protected] www.berkshireasset.com

Berkshire ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC

Portfolio Management Since 1986

Berkshire is a fee-based, SEC registered* advisory firm serving the portfolio management needs of personal high net worth and institutional clients. Over the past 30 years, we have successfully implemented equity, fixed income (taxable & tax-free) and balanced portfolios. Our guiding principle is a belief that success is achieved by combining rigorous, well-crafted investment processes with an exceptional level of client service and attention to detail.

1-800-897-3057 [email protected] www.berkshireasset.com

We're dedicated to delivering high quality, accessible, understandable and affordable experiences, outcomes

and solutions for our customers.

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Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

We're dedicated to delivering high quality, accessible, understandable and affordable experiences, outcomes

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By leveraging data and sharing deep marketing experience, BlackOut Design has helped clients navigate the landscape where marketing and technology meet. BlackOut's traditional and digital design, development, and marketing services have elevated some of the leading community and growth driven brands throughout the greater mid-Atlantic region since 2003.

Office Location:527 South Blakely StreetDunmore, PA 18512

By leveraging data and sharing deep marketing experience, BlackOut Design has helped clients navigate the landscape where marketing and technology meet. BlackOut's traditional and digital design, development, and marketing services have elevated some of the leading community and growth driven brands throughout the greater mid-Atlantic region since 2003.

Office Location:527 South Blakely StreetDunmore, PA 18512

NEThasbeenthearea’strustedbankingpartnersince1941.Transformationsinthepast5yearsincludeinvestments in operations, marketing and information technology creating a better experience formembers. These improvements have been recognized locally, regionally and nationally withmultipleawards:TimesReaders’ChoiceBestCreditUnion,ScrantonChamberSAGEBestinOperations,CommunityInvolvementandMarketing,PCUALeadersinFinancialLiteracy,NationalCUNALendingAward,NationalCUNADiamondMarketingAward,andmanymore.Weareanemployer-basedcreditunionandhaverelationshipswithover500businessesandassociationsinNEPA.It’ssimple–yourbusinesswantstoprovidebenefitstoemployees.We’reafreebenefit.Offerourservicesandwe’llprovideFREEseminarstoyouremployees.WithmanyAmericanslivingpaycheck-to-paycheck,giveyouremployeespeaceofmindwiththeirpersonalfinances.Our vision is to be our region’s primary, full service financial institution, by creating a welcomingatmospherethatbuildstrustandallowsmemberstobemoreengagedandfinanciallysuccessful.Fromeverydaybankingtolending,ourstaffisgladtoserveourmember’sneeds.AskaboutourCreditScoreProgram!Contact:[email protected]___________________________________________________________________



AtUGI,webelievethatsafe,reliableandefficientenergyisanecessityforourcustomersandcommunities.Westrivetodeliverthisfundamentalneedthroughbest-in-classsafety,operations,productsandserviceswhilepositivelyimpactingthelivesofouremployees,customers,andthecommunitiesweserve.

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Navient is a leader in education loan management and business processing solutions for education, healthcare, and government clients at the federal, state, and local levels.

Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, Navient employs more than 800 team members in northeastern Pennsylvania and also maintains facilities in western New York, Indiana, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and other locations.

We enhance the financial success of our customers by delivering innovative solutions and insights with compassion and personalized service.

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© 2019 Navient Solutions, LLC. All rights reserved. Navient and the Navient logo are registered service marks of Navient Solutions, LLC. Navient Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Navient Solutions, LLC,are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.

At UGI, we believe that safe, reliable and efficient energy is a necessity for our customers and communities. We strive to deliver this fundamental need through best-in-class safety, operations, products and services while positively impacting the lives of our employees, customers, and the communities we serve.

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The Wright Center for Community Health and its affiliated entity, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education is a non-profit, community-based graduate medical education consortium and safety-net provider of primary care services.

The mission of both organizations is to improve the health and welfare of our community through inclusive and responsive health services and the sustainable renewal of an inspired, competent workforce that is privileged to serve.

At the heart of the organizations is a strong commitment to graduate medical education, patient and family care and positive regional impact, inclusive of community service and economic growth and development.

Since1956,CANDOhasbeentheleadingeconomicdevelopmentorganizationservingGreaterHazleton.

OurmissionistoimprovethequalityoflifeintheGreaterHazletonareathroughthecreationandretentionofafullrangeofemploymentopportunities.

Weareadeveloper,landlord,entrepreneurialadvocateandpublicutility.

Sinceourfounding,CANDOhasdevelopedmorethan4,200acresoflandandhasseentheconstructionof20millionsquarefeetofnewbuildings.Thisdevelopmenthelpedtocreatemorethan28,000jobsandmorethan$1billioninprivateinvestment.

Since 1956, CAN DO has been the leading economic development organization serving Greater Hazleton.

Our mission is to improve the quality of life in the Greater Hazleton area through the creation and retention of a full range of employment opportunities.

We are a developer, landlord, entrepreneurial advocate and public utility.

Since our founding, CAN DO has developed more than 4,200 acres of land and has seen the construction of 20 million square feet of new buildings. This development helped to create more than 28,000 jobs and more than $1 billion in private investment.

Sanofi is dedicated to supporting people through their health challenges. We are a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health. We prevent illness with vaccines, provide innovative treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccine division of Sanofi, is committed to a world where no one suffers or dies from vaccine-preventable disease.

Sanofi is dedicated to supporting people through their health challenges. We are a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health. We prevent illness with vaccines, provide innovative treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccine division of Sanofi, is committed to a world where no one suffers or dies from vaccine-preventable disease.

Academic Partners

AcademicPartners

501 VINE STREETSCRANTON, PA 18509

AcademicPartners

AcademicPartners

The Wright Center for Community Health and its affiliated entity, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education is a non-profit, community-based graduate medical education consortium and safety-net provider of primary care services.

The mission of both organizations is to improve the health and welfare of our community through inclusive and responsive health services and the sustainable renewal of an inspired, competent workforce that is privileged to serve.

The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education was founded in 1976 and has grown into a robust, nationally-recognized Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortium (GME-SNC) training 185+ Family Medicine, Internal Medicine and Psychiatry residents as well as Cardiology and Gastroenterology fellows within community venues across America. The organization is well-recognized for recruiting and retaining compassionate, competent physicians with relevant, 21st-century skill sets who desire to serve their patients and their community. Since its inception, the organization has trained more than 750 physicians.

The Wright Center for Community Health operates safety-net practices throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. All Wright Center for Community Health practices follow the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model, a delivery structure in which treatment is coordinated through a primary care physician to ensure necessary care is received when and where a patient needs it. The organization continues to explore partnerships with like-minded community partners and integrates mental health, dental services and other specialty services into primary care for a whole-patient approach.

At the heart of the organization is a strong commitment to graduate medical education, patient and family care and positive regional impact, inclusive of community service and economic growth and development.

Office locations in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, PA 570.408.9850

www.institutepa.org [email protected]$30

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

http://www.facebook.com/institutepa https://twitter.com/institutePA

A partnership among Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Johnson College, Keystone College, King’s College, Lackawanna College, Luzerne County Community College,

Marywood University, Misericordia University, Penn State Scranton, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, University of Scranton & Wilkes University


Documents

2019 Indicator's Report - The Institute for Public Policy & … · 2019. 5. 29. · In 2017, there were 13,000 business establishments in the region, 5 percent fewer than a decade