In 1998 Zogby International of Utica, New York was commissioned by the Greater Hazleton Civic Partnership to conduct a multi-phase opinion study in conjunction with developing a community vision for the region. The objectives of the project at that time were to collect data on the community's self-image, establish consensus information, to give the area a vision and set goals for the future of the Greater Hazleton Area. Much of the Greater Hazleton Area Civic Partnership's mission came about as a result of the original Zogby report .
We have again invited Zogby International to conduct another study which allows our organization and members of our community to develop programs based on information from the study, helping us to create strategic planning and allowing us to better serve the Greater Hazleton Area and its people.
The mission of the Community Task Force is to analyze the demographic, economic and social trends of the Greater Hazleton Area and compare those trends to similarly sized communities. Then using the analysis as a base it is to determine how area resources can be mobilized to meet the needs of our community and prepare for changes that are yet to come. The Task Force seeks to engage the community to use this process to maintain and to improve on the health of our community.
The goals of the 2006 study involved the following objectives:
To identify and understand emerging trends in the region
To determine how emerging trends affect the region and future development
To conduct an assessement and inventory of regional trends to determine how Hazleton may need to adapt to support the changing population, including (but not limited to):
Available information on growing poverty levels
Increased use of public social services and facilities including public schools, health and medical services, municipal, governmental and emergency services
Economic development and the job market
Housing / commercial construction - needs and opportunities
Increase in population diversity and bilingual residents and related bilingual services
Tax revenues not collected from businesses with Keystone Opportunity Zone designation
