DCNR's Fact Sheet describes the Laurel Highlands CLI.

The Laurel  Ridge Interpretive Plan covering seven state parks and Forbes State Forest is now available.

DCNR report "Places We Call Home" highlights the success of the state's seven CLIs.

The Laurel Highlands Summit held April 26-27, 2009, was a big success with more than 160 people participating.

Ohiopyle is described as the "portal" into the Laurel Highlands, so a lot is happening here.  The Ohiopyle Community Visioning Workshop or charrette became the basis for the Joint Master Plan and Implementation Strategy for the Borough and State Park.  The Request for Proposals attracted more than 20 consulting teams competing for the contract, awarded to URS Corp.   PEC worked with the Fayette County Redevelopment Authority to bring in a $1.92 million Smart Transportation project and PEC applied directly and received a $1.3 million grant from PENNVEST for a "green infrastructure" or stormwater management project, which was under construction in early 2010.  PEC also is supporting development of a new Visitors Center, sewage treatment plant, playground and mountain-biking trails in Ohiopyle.

The Youghiogheny River Water Trail provides maps and guidies.  PEC is also working on access improvements.  The water trail was developed in conjunction with the Yough RiverSojourn celebrating the Yough as Pennsylvania's River of the Year for 2008.

The Laurel Ridge Trails Assessment identifies new trail opportunities, including links to several communities and the proposed Ridgeback Trail, which would parallel Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail for 70 miles from Ohiopyle to near Johnstown.

Community planning and development is under way to make tourist gateways sustainable:

• Connellsville design-development drawings were done for three projects and are summarized in a news release; one drawing shows the potential for an improved Amtrak rail-passenger station and connections to Downtown, another shows the potential for a restaurant at the former Youghiogheny train station and the third shows a coneptual beautified downtown streetscape. 
• Connellsville Community Visioning Workshop or charrette brought forth many ideas for how to improve the city's downtown and better link it to the Great Allegheny Passage.  Connellsville is central to the Great Allegheny Passage and was selected as one of the most critical gateways to the entire Laurel Highlands.  Additional support was provided through PEC's proposed Connelsville Design Guidelines (posted as Part 1and Part 2).
• Donegal Community Visioning Workshop or charrette report is in a draft stage.  Thefollow-up public meeting attracted about 30 people interested in make things happen in this critical gateway to the Laurel Highlands.
• "Lift Johnstown" is an effort to implement three plans, including the Laurel Highlands CLI.  PEC is helping to coordinate several aspects of Lift Johnstown, including development of a regional trail network that includes work on includes the Path of the Flood Trail, Conemaugh Gap Trail, extension of the Jim Mayer Riverwalk and links through the City of Johnstown.
• Support is being provided for other planning initiatives, such as the Route 31 corridor in Somerset County and the Somerset Turnpike Interchange improvement project.