Welcome to the Fund for Northern Tier Development!

Since 2017, a passionate group of business and community leaders from Bradford, Tioga, and Potter Counties have come together with a shared dream: to build a stronger, more vibrant Northern Tier region. The Fund for Northern Tier Development (FNTD) was born from this desire for collaboration and positive change.

Who We Are & Why We Exist

At our core, we support, educate, and advocate for key priorities such as economic growth, job creation and retention, and education to benefit our local communities, institutions, and businesses. Why? We realize the power of a united, regional effort, and voice. Neither to compete nor duplicate, we desire to enhance existing initiatives, identify gaps, and introduce new and strategic resources to partner with ongoing efforts.

What We Stand For

Bold, Impact-Driven Partnerships

We believe in risk-taking, creativity, and teamwork. Through bold initiatives, we can craft solutions for pressing issues by forging strong partnerships, presenting ideas that ignite fresh insights and investments, and transforming challenges into opportunities.

Amplifying Local Voices

Our goal is to boost, not overshadow. We work alongside county organizations and governments, educational institutions, agricultural initiatives, healthcare providers, chambers, and more, ensuring that advocating as one stronger, unified voice can bring real progress.

Highlight Project: Culinary Boot Camps

One of our most exciting recent initiatives is the Culinary Boot Camp Program. In partnership with regional food service providers and Northern Tier Regional College, the FNTD launched Culinary Boot Camps that provide hands-on training in culinary skills, cooking, baking, advanced culinary techniques, and ServSafe Manager Certification.

These boot camps open doors for individuals who want to launch a culinary career or sharpen skills to advance in the food service industry. By addressing the shortage of trained kitchen staff in our region, we’re helping local restaurants, bakeries, schools, and healthcare facilities fill critical roles while empowering individuals with marketable, lifelong skills.

Through this program, students gain:

• Practical, real-world culinary training

• Professional certifications to enhance employability

• Connections with local employers seeking kitchen staff and managers

This initiative is a prime example of how our FNTD’s mission comes to life—bringing together business needs, community development, and education to create a stronger Northern Tier workforce and economy.

What to Expect Next

On this blog, we’ll share stories of real impact, featuring the educators, students, businesses, and community leaders who are turning vision into reality. Expect regular updates on upcoming projects, funding announcements, and collaborative efforts that are shaping the region’s future.

We’re so glad you’re here. Whether you're a local employer, educator, policymaker, community advocate, or resident, you’re part of this journey. Let’s forge ahead together, strengthen our Northern Tier, and make lasting positive change.

Stay connected, stay informed. Let’s build something extraordinary.

— The FNTD Team