OUR MISSION

The mission of Slate Belt Rising (SBR), a program of Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV), is to galvanize the boroughs of Wind Gap, Pen Argyl, Bangor, and Portland to capitalize on their shared heritage and traditions, the natural beauty of the Slate Belt, and the commercial potential provided by the proximity to major roadways in order to increase economic opportunity in the region, reduce poverty, eliminate blight, and improve the overall quality of life.

SBR will work toward five major inter-connected objectives to revitalize the Slate Belt’s boroughs of Bangor, Wind Gap, Pen Argyl, and Portland. These comprehensive priority areas include:

• Vibrant Economic Climate

• Regional Cooperation

• Neighborhoods and Housing

• Youth Engagement

• Sustainable Slate Belt Rising

WHO WE ARE

Slate Belt Rising (SBR) is a neighborhood revitalization initiative designed to integrate and capitalize on the substantial assets of the individual Slate Belt communities. By leveraging the unique history, architecture, and culture of each municipality into a regional approach, SBR will use a Neighborhood Partnership Plan to foster comprehensive community and economic development. While SBR specifically targets the boroughs of Bangor, Wind Gap, Pen Argyl, and Portland, some initiatives promote development and the coordination of services for the entire region.The SBR Steering Committee includes representatives from each participating borough, borough residents, Northampton County Department of Community & Economic Development, CACLV, corporate funders, state legislators, and committee chairs from SBR’s working committees.

Our director, Stephen Reider, was born and raised in the Slate belt in Roseto Borough. He graduated from Pius X in 2009 and continued his education at East Stroudsburg University where he graduated in 2012 with two Bachelor’s degrees, one in Spanish, and one in Political Science with a concentration in Public Administration.
Upon graduation, Stephen began working with State Representative Mario Scavello, and worked with the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as a Legislative Aide. Once Representative Scavello was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate, Stephen served for Senator Scavello in his Pen Argyl office as a Field Representative working directly with Slate Belt and Northampton County constituents on a variety of state related issues.
On February 21st, 2017, Stephen was hired by the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley as the Director of their new Slate Belt Rising program .