Northampton County Executive Summit Brings More Than 100 Leaders Together to Chart a Collaborative Path Forward

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 9, 2026

[Northampton County, PA] – More than 100 community leaders, local officials, nonprofit partners, and industry professionals gathered today for the first Northampton County Executive Summit, a daylong working session convened by County Executive Tara Zrinski to establish shared priorities for the county’s next 100 days and beyond.

The highly interactive summit, held at the Northampton County Government Center, brought together participants across seven themed committees, including housing, infrastructure, sustainability, public safety, and economic development. Following the event, 86 participants submitted detailed survey responses, offering candid feedback on what is working across county systems and where stronger coordination is needed.

“The energy in the room was extraordinary,” said County Executive Tara Zrinski. “Across every committee, people came ready to do the hard work of collaboration—naming gaps honestly, sharing ideas, and finding the intersections that connect us. This wasn’t a meeting about what’s wrong with government; it was about how we fix it together.”

Participants identified several cross-cutting priorities that emerged consistently across discussion groups:

• Housing and workforce stability
• Transportation and mobility
• Equity and access to services
• Data sharing and coordination across programs
• Infrastructure and environmental resilience

The summit featured facilitated committee sessions, cross-committee breakouts, and a “Red Light–Green Light” exercise designed to identify both immediate and longer-term action items. Outcomes from the day will inform the county’s 100-Day Action Plan as well as a long-term four-year Strategic Framework.

Zrinski described the summit as an example of “government with, not over, people,” emphasizing her administration’s commitment to transparency and co-creation. “Power is something we build with others,” she said. “When government listens first and acts collaboratively, we don’t just make better policy—we build trust, equity, and resilience.”

Survey responses revealed strong alignment around near-term actions related to housing stability, human services improvement, and regional collaboration. Participants emphasized the need for increased cross-municipal planning on land use, support for county housing and reentry task forces, and advisory groups with meaningful input into policy decisions.

Looking ahead, Zrinski outlined a roadmap for both immediate progress and long-term structural change. “In the next 100 days, we can show that listening leads to action—taking concrete steps on housing, human services, and inclusion,” she said.

“Over the next four years, we will keep this table open and keep sharing power, building more affordable, sustainable, and just Northampton County.”

The county will release a full Executive Summit Outcomes Report later this month, summarizing key takeaways, committee priorities, and proposed next steps.

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