Within Tioga County a locally driven collaboration designed to stimulate economic and community development.
In 1999, U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey announced that the USDA was launching an economic development pilot project designed to mitigate the effects of job losses to rural communities and create an environment for long-term economic growth. Congressman Hinchey negotiated a Memorandum of Agreement with the USDA to establish its rural development initiative in the region. The Tioga County REAP, along with another REAP project in Sullivan County, NY were the first pilot programs of their kind and were meant to serve as a national model for flexible rural development around the country. The pilot set up a collaborative and citizen-led effort to enhance economic development. Eventually there were five designated REAP zones in the United States.
Our town REAP representative is Emily Van Scoy