A new group wants to grow the economy in northern parts of Cambria County.

P.R.I.D.E of Cambria County North officially started about a year and a half ago. The group’s goal is to promote business and tourism in the north, where residents may feel isolated from the rest of the county’s resources.

“Whether it’s business, tourism or taking advantage of what the north has to offer,” said Jim McCann, the P.R.I.D.E chairman. “We felt we were on our own little island up here and nobody really cared.”

McCann was born and raised in Carrolltown Borough and watched as his hometown and the surrounding communities struggled with job losses in the coal industry.

“The northern part of Cambria County was a very vibrant community back in its heyday in the 70s and 80s with its coal mines and businesses flourishing. With that going away, it’s kind of fallen on some hard times,” said McCann.

P.R.I.D.E stands for “people reaching out to improve and develop the economy.” It’s a subsidiary of the Northern Cambria Community Development Corporation. The organization wants to create jobs, increase transportation and infrastructure. However, they need other businesses and towns to get involved.

“I would truly like to see these little towns and municipalities in the north pull together and gain power,” said Kathy Lamont, P.R.I.D.E’S community and economic development director.

P.R.I.D.E helped the West Branch Susquehanna Rescue secure a $4,000 dollar grant to build a boat ramp in Northern Cambria.

“Life has come back to the river and it can be a focal point of the community,” said Matt Tomallo, President of the West Branch Susquehanna Rescue.

P.R.I.D.E wants to help others in the north who may feel forgotten or hopeless, by showing them what the north has to be proud of.

“There’s a lot of positive things that happen up here,” said McCann.