A partnership among Keystone College, King's College, Luzerne County Community College, Marywood University, Misericordia University, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, The Commonwealth Medical College, University of Scranton, and Wilkes University.


About Us

Research areas include:

  • demographics
  • economic development and planning
  • community development
  • education
  • workforce development
  • health and healthcare
  • best practices
  • innovation or economic indicators
  • tourism and arts & culture

The Institute prepares the following products:

  • Indicators – Benchmarks- Wealth or Prosperity Indexes
  • Health Assessments
  • HUD Studies
  • Market and Feasibility Analyses
  • Economic Development Strategies
  • Economic and Tax Impact Studies
  • Industry Studies
  • Workforce Studies
  • Education Studies
  • Economic and Demographic Profiles
  • Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation Support
  • Research Validation and Peer Review
  • Site Selection Research
  • Stimulus Project Analyses and Monitoring
  • Arts & Culture Studies
  • Tourism Strategic Plans
  • Comprehensive Plans
  • Community Issue Resolution
  • Asset Maps

 The Institute’s work revolves around the following categories: 

  • Research Reports including primary and applied research, data analysis, strategy development, implementation plans, case studies, and best practices for successful execution of projects and programs.

  • Education through white papers, seminars, workshops, news articles, policy statements and policy analysis.

  •  Technical Assistance including data gathering and analysis, literature reviews, and plan development  
  • Published reports on an annual and quarterly basis that include those on the economy and forecasts, city and regional benchmarking, and indicator reports and innovation indexes.

Annually, The Institute publishes a regional indicators report and presents it to the community. This report measures change in the region and provides organizations with data necessary to run their organizations to achieve their full potential. Through this effort, The Institute facilitates five regional task forces:

        1) education and workforce development; jobs, economy, and economic development;
        2) health and healthcare;
        3) housing;
        4) planning, land use, transportation, and infrastructure.

These task forces have formed objectives and policy statements based on visions and goals established by regional stakeholders five years ago. Over 100 regional volunteers participate in this effort. Numerous bi-county initiatives have occurred as a result of this process.

The Institute has completed projects for a number of public, private, and non-profit organizations, and the federal government.