An overall description of the academic paper (word count: 100) This study explores the sustainability of local railroads through place-based collaboration in Pennsylvania from 1974 to 2024, a period marked by macroeconomic shifts and technological advancements that challenged local economies and transportation systems. Despite these challenges, collaborative efforts among diverse stakeholders have conserved local resources and fostered community resilience. Using frameworks of Collaborative Governance and Public– Private Partnerships (PPP), the research examines the evolution of a specific railroad, emphasizing policy development and practical collaboration. Content analysis of public documents, government reports, and citizen interviews reveals the importance of collaborative policy implementation and active community engagement in sustaining resources and promoting prosperity. An explanation of how your academic paper relates to the theme Place-Based Collaboration. (word count: 246) This research examines the importance of collaborative efforts and systemic implementation to sustain local resources, emphasizing place-based collaboration to revitalize communities. Many regions face challenges such as industrial and population decline that cannot be resolved by a single actor or jurisdiction. Multi-level governance provides a framework to understand how diverse stakeholders address shared issues across different governance levels, where central and local governments collaborate with public and private actors (OECD, 2010). Focusing on Bellefonte in Pennsylvania's SEDA-COG region from 1974 to 2024, this study employs content analysis to explore how legislative policies and collaborative practices have influenced community development. Findings highlight the strategic importance of partnerships that transcend geographic boundaries and individual initiatives, promoting regional development while enhancing networks and social cohesion. Activated multi-level governance alliances strengthen community resilience through shared projects, ensuring the sustainability of local resources. This study also integrates Public–Private Partnerships (PPP) into the multi-level governance framework to emphasize their role in local implementation. While multi-level governance does not explicitly address the private sector's role, PPP offers insights into how local communities engage in and benefit from development initiatives. By addressing issues such as resource allocation and stakeholder collaboration, this approach provides practical insights grounded in empirical case studies. Legislative measures promoting inter-city collaboration and the involvement of community volunteer organizations or local companies further underscore the importance of active community engagement. These efforts significantly shape governance landscapes, influencing the roles and interactions of diverse actors in fostering regional resilience.
