Reasons to Stay

Meet the people who are staying, the people who are leaving, and the people who are trying to give others “reasons to stay” in the State College area.

Emily Reddy

A Love Song to All the Friends Who’ve Gone

A couple sits closely together and looks down on Happy Valley from an overlook at Mt. Nittany

Melissa Hombosky

Changing the “Culture of Leaving”

Melissa Hombosky stands in a field as the sun sets, smiling and watching her dogs play

Penn State Students

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

A group of graduating students in caps & gowns jump in the air in front of the Nittany Lion shrine

Jason Browne

Taking Advantage of Opportunities

Todd Erdley

Channeling a River of Talent

Todd Erdley addressing his employees in the lunch room at Videon Central

Peg Hambrick

Connecting Neighbor to Neighbor

Peg Hambrick extends her hand to greet two fraternity members in her neighborhood

Gary Long

Making Millheim the Place to Be

Gary Long shapes a guitar body in his luthiery workshop

Scott Woods

Creating a Balance

Scott Woods in the New Leaf Initiative space discusses ideas with other entrepreneurs

Whitney Polakowski

Pulled in Two Directions

Whitney Polakowski in front of a glass door at Artemis Massage Studio

Kevin Lloyd

A Welcoming Community

Kevin Lloyd stands in the Big Spring Distillery with grains in the foreground and aging barrels in the background

Reasons to Stay Survey

How do your reasons compare?

A wide angle shot of traffic at night in downtown State College