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our
process

Revitalize Potter County is a transparent, community-driven planning effort. We’re listening first—before drafting strategies—because we believe that real economic development begins with the people who live and work here.


Below is an overview of the steps we’re taking. As the project progresses, this page will be updated to reflect real-time progress and completed milestones.

Survey INFO

We’re collecting 1,000 surveys from residents and visitors to gather statistically significant data about what people value, what’s missing, and what opportunities exist in Potter County. These details will help us understand community needs and priorities—and will directly inform the strategic recommendations in the final economic development report.

Interviews

We’re conducting 30 one-on-one interviews with residents, business owners, and community leaders across Potter County. These conversations allow us to go deeper—capturing insights, lived experiences, and local knowledge that can’t always be expressed in a form or group setting. The interviews help us understand what’s working, what’s holding communities back, and what kinds of strategies will truly make a difference.

Community Meetings

Community-Based Meetings" and add the following text "We’re hosting 8 community-based meetings and 5 school-based feedback sessions across Potter County to gather ideas, concerns, and aspirations directly from the people who live, work, and learn here. These meetings are a core part of the Revitalize Potter County process. They give residents and students a chance to share what they love about their communities, what they want to see improved, and what kinds of projects or investments would make a real difference.

Community-Based Meetings

Revitalize Potter County is a transparent, community-driven planning effort. We’re listening first—before drafting strategies—because we believe that real economic development begins with the people who live and work here.

Below is an overview of the steps we’re taking. As the project progresses, this page will be updated to reflect real-time progress and completed milestones.
Community-Based Meetings

These are open events held in townships and boroughs across the county. They include food, interactive activities, and opportunities to share ideas in a casual, welcoming setting.

•        Designed to meet people where they are—in fire halls, community centers, and local gathering spots
•        Focused on capturing local ideas, challenges, and opportunities
•        Open to everyone: residents, business owners, students, and more

 

        Locations Include: 

  •         Germania

  •         Roulette

  •         Genesee

  •         Coudersport

  •         Austin

  •         Ulysses

  •         Shinglehouse

  •         Galeton

REPORTS

School-Based Meetings

Our future depends on the next generation. That’s why we’re visiting local schools to hear directly from students. These meetings focused on gaining insights and input from middle school and high school students. 
•        Focused sessions with high schoolers and middle schoolers
•        Hands-on, creative formats that allow students to express ideas visually or verbally
•        Youth feedback is integrated directly into planning outcomes

These are open events held in townships and boroughs across the county. They include food, interactive activities, and opportunities to share ideas in a casual, welcoming setting.

Designed to meet people where they are—in fire halls, community centers, and local gathering spots
Focused on capturing local ideas, challenges, and opportunities
Open to everyone: residents, business owners, students, and more

 

        Locations Include: 

  • Coudersport area school district 

  • Austin Area School District 

  • Northern Potter School District 

  • Oswayo Valley School District 

  • Galeton Area School District. 

County-Wide Survey

SURVEY

We’re collecting input from every corner of Potter County to better understand people’s priorities and lived experiences.
Goal: 1,000 survey responses
This dashboard tracks our progress: 
Want to take the survey and receive a $5 gift card? [Button: Take the Survey]
Stakeholder Interviews
In-depth conversations with business owners, local leaders, youth, and other key community members are helping us dive deeper into challenges and opportunities.
Goal: 30 interviews

First Impressions

This program sends people into communities across Potter County to provide fresh feedback on what visitors see, feel, and experience. It’s a low-cost, high-impact tool that gives local leaders insight into how outsiders perceive their town. Developed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison All Potter County Townships are undergoing the first Impressions assessment. 
•        As each is completed, we’ll post a 1-page community summary here.

Research Literature Review 
In addition to what we hear from the community, we’re gathering data and reviewing existing information to build a plan that’s both informed and innovative.
We are compiling and analyzing:
•        Existing economic development reports and regional plans
•        Tourism, housing, and broadband data
•        Prior community efforts and studies

This helps us avoid reinventing the wheel—and builds on what’s already been done. The final literature review will be included with the final plan.

The Final Report

All of this input—surveys, stories, data, and research—will come together in a comprehensive, action-oriented economic development plan for Potter County.

The final report won’t just be a long document that sits on a shelf. It will be:
        •        Broken into digestible sections filled with clear data, community feedback, and visual storytelling
        •        Centered on realistic, locally informed strategies for growth and development
        •        Designed to be a tool for community leaders, businesses, funders, and residents alike

Most importantly, it will be built from the ground up—with ideas from across the county and a clear path forward.

You’ll be able to access the report as it’s developed here: STRATEGIES FOR GROWTH
 

Beyond on the Final Report


The final report is not the end of this journey—it’s just the beginning.

Once the plan is complete and strategies have been identified, it will be up to county leaders, organizations, and residents like you to bring those ideas to life. From small town beautification efforts to major infrastructure investments, every action—large or small—has the power to move Potter County forward.

We believe the best ideas are born locally. That’s why this process is designed not just to create a plan, but to ignite a movement. We anticipate many of the most promising projects will rise directly from this community-driven process—and thanks to the groundwork we’ve laid together, some of them may be quickly actionable.

This isn’t just planning for planning’s sake. This is about building the Potter County we want to live in—for ourselves, our children, and future generations to come.

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Engage with us!

volunteer

Help make community meetings and outreach efforts successful by sharing your time and energy, or volunteer to attend and lead a committee! 

Submit a Project Idea

Have an idea for a project that could benefit your community or Potter County? We want to hear it!

Submit a Photo/Video

Share a favorite image or clip that captures the spirit of Potter County—past or present! It will end up on the timeline or part of a storied blog post! 

Submit a Story

Tell us about your experience living, working, or growing up in Potter County. Your story could help shape the vision on this community and may just end up in a storied blog post! 

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©2025 Revitalize Potter County

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