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.
2023 Indicators Report
The Institute’s 2023 Task Force videos and other research briefs are available on The Institute’s You Tube channel.
The data dashboard is underwritten by the foundations that comprise Project STIR.
Demographics
The size and composition of the two counties’ populations, and the dynamics driving population change
Jobs and Economy
Important economic indicators in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties and in Pennsylvania as a whole.
Education
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.
Technology and Innovation
This section of the report tracks measures of innovation such as STEM employment, research and technology funding, and clinical trials.
Housing
Northeastern Pennsylvania’s housing market, including demand, building permits, occupancy, housing affordability, rental affordability, housing density, market conditions, and homelessness.
Social Services
The Social Services section of the report describes important indicators related to social service programs, including government-funded services usually provided to those in need of essentials, such as health care and food.
Health & Health Care
Civic Engagement
Identifies important indicators in Lackawanna County, Luzerne County, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania – including nonprofit organizations, library circulation, voter turnout, and veterans.
Government
County government fiscal affairs. The indicators reflect governmental size, scope, and financial health.
Public Safety
These statistics include crime rates, traffic safety, and police officer and fire department statistics.
Environment
Focuses on several key indicators, including recycling, waste management, mining impacts, and air and water quality.
Infrastructure
The Infrastructure section of the report details travel trends, roads and bridges, energy, and broadband.
Arts, Culture and Heritage
Measures quality of life factors like the arts, historic resources, farmland preservation, and tourism.
Social Equity
Analyzing disparities and inequities between population segments across a variety of topics
City Data
Dive deeper into granular data on the region’s six cities.
County Data
Focuses on several key indicators, including recycling, waste management, mining impacts, and air and water quality.
Sarah, a former Institute intern, joined The Institute in April 2021 as a Research Assistant. She started her new role as a Research Analyst in January 2024. 
Dr. Jolene Carey-Pace joined The Institute Team in 2021 as a Research Analyst. In 2023, she was named Senior Research & Policy Analyst. 
Jill Avery-Stoss joined The Institute in June 2018 to fill the newly-created role of Research, Data, Intern & Administrative Coordinator. She assists with the collection and management of data for purposes of ethical and efficient analysis. She visits partner campuses to market The Institute’s internship opportunities, and participates in event-planning logistical activities as well. In 2021, Jill was promoted to Director of Operations to reflect the diversity in her job description and the additional marketing and communication functions she successfully mastered in 2020. In 2022, Jill was named Chief Operating Officer after expanding into both research and administrative management functions. Jill is taking on project management, fundraising, and other executive leadership functions of the organization.
Research Analyst in 2022.
Ooms is responsible for all facets of research, organizational strategy, and management. Ooms is an active principal investigator in all Institute research. Ooms has been nationally recognized as a leader in regional economic development. She turned that skill into a research institute to help other regions develop and prosper. Her strategic skills have allowed The Institute to expand its services to the private and non-profit sectors for research and analysis in community health needs assessments, strategic planning, market and feasibility studies, and economic impact analysis.