In 2003, the Brooking Institute published a report to improve economic growth in Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, a group called the Pennsylvania Prosperity Coalition released a counter report saying Brookings leads state government in the wrong direction.

In a conference call with the Pennsylvania Prosperity Coalition, Channel 6 learned members include the Pennsylvania Builders and Manufacturers' Associations, the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors and more. They contend the Brookings report is wrong in saying people moving out of cities and into suburbs is a major reason for the state's failing economy. Some local leaders hint the Coalition is biased.

Jeff Silka, Johnstown's City Manager says, "Their members are actually the members who would benefit from sprawl and construction, so obviously they're going to take a look at suburbinization and the increased development on the outskirts of cities are pro because it's actually pro for their business."

In order to improve Pennsylvania's economy, the Coalition's report recommends government leaders reduce Pennsylvania's business taxes, fight urban sprawl with mixed-use zoning, encourage affordable workforce housing, and in the only place the Coalition and Brookings' report is similar, improve coordination among state and local agencies by merging forces or regionalization. On the last note, city management agrees.

Silka says, "As tax dollars become tighter and tighter, if we can regionalize the same service through joint representation, there's definitely value in that. That's why in Johnstown we have a regional water authority, we have a sewer authority...in the city."

The Pennsylvania Prosperity Coalition says their main goal is to have public policy reflect life in all of the counties in the state, not just the big cities. They also want you to get involved and voice your opinions and ideas to your government leaders.